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Project 2024

The Future of Gas in Illinois

Research with the Building Decarbonization Coalition on gas utility spending, customer costs, and options for managing Illinois’ transition away from gas.

Diagrams of air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, and thermal energy networks.Expand figure
Diagrams of air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, and thermal energy networks.

The Future of Gas in Illinois, Figure 2.2: competing heating technologies. BDC / Groundwork Data.

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The Future of Gas in Illinois, Figure 2.2: competing heating technologies. BDC / Groundwork Data.

Groundwork Data worked with the Building Decarbonization Coalition to examine how Illinois’ gas utilities could respond to rising infrastructure costs and a changing market for heating. The assignment focused on Ameren, Nicor, North Shore Gas, and Peoples Gas.

The team reviewed utility infrastructure and financial data and modeled how different levels of capital spending and customer departures would affect delivery costs. The resulting report connects those findings to decisions about gas investment, neighborhood electrification, and protections for customers who face barriers to switching.

Dorie Seavey was the report’s primary author. Michael Bloomberg and Michael J. Walsh were co-authors; Conor Lyman contributed modeling and analysis, and Grey Sylvester provided research support. BDC contributed project management, editing, and review.