How Trump's megabill affects Illinois' environment
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Illinois environmental advocates are decrying President Trump's megabill, calling it a "misguided" plan that "puts polluters first," while Republican Rep. Mary Miller has praised it as a policy that "unleashes American energy."
Why it matters: Both sides agree that it will have a major impact on Illinois.
The big picture: The bill rolls back Biden-era policies that supported wind, solar and battery-stored energy as well as electric vehicles.
- It replaces them with eased permitting and more tax credits for coal, oil and other fossil fuels. At least 4 million additional acres of federal land will be available for mining, and the hydrogen tax credit will be available through 2028.
What they're saying: "Lowering families' energy costs and making our air cleaner should be something we all agree on, and yet Trump and his cronies would rather gut clean energy and pollution reduction programs to fund tax breaks for billionaires," Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said in a statement.
The other side: In a news release, Miller characterized the changes as "ending radical 'Green' New Scam tax subsidies."
- Axios reached out to all three Illinois Republican representatives who voted for the bill, including Miller, Mike Bost and Darin LaHood, but none commented.
Timeline: The bill includes termination dates for clean energy programs, including these, which the Illinois Environmental Council flagged as some of the most important:
- Sept. 30, 2025, marks the last day you can buy an EV and still qualify for a $4,000 to $7,000 federal tax credit.
- Dec. 31, 2025, is when you must have started construction on energy-efficient home improvements — including insulation or installation of solar, wind and heat pump technology — to get tax credits worth up to 30% of project cost.
- Dec. 31, 2027, is when hydrogen energy production facilities must start operating to qualify for tax credits.
By the numbers: The federal Joint Economic Committee estimated that the expiring tax credits helped the average American family save $1,080 per year.
- According to state figures, the megabill could endanger 300 clean energy projects and 26,000 jobs by 2030 in Illinois if already initiated manufacturing and construction projects that would have benefitted from tax incentives fold.
- Under the bill, Illinois households could see average energy bills increase by $168 this year, according to the Citizens Utility Board.
Zoom in: Illinois solar associations are urging state lawmakers to help soften the federal losses with state legislation to add more wind, solar and battery-stored power to the grid. A bill that would have done that came close but failed in the last session.
What's next: State Sen. Bill Cunningham, who represents the Southwest Side and Southwest suburbs, sponsored the bill and says he wants to revamp it for the fall veto session.