This week, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) held another meeting in their Future of Gas proceedings intended to identify issues related to the role natural gas may play in decarbonizing Illinois. This meeting was simply to take public comments on the issue. IFCA is closely watching these because of the importance of natural gas to the manufacturing of nitrogen.
 
Also filed this week was SB3935 to create 2050 Heat Decarbonization Standards that requires all natural gas utilities to transition to 100% zero emission by 2050. Reduction goals start in 2030 to be 20% relative to each utility’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions levels on a weather-normalized basis and grow by 4% each year thereafter to reach 100% in 2050. By June 1, 2025, the ICC will publish a Heat Decarbonization Pathways Study to serve as a guide for utilities on compliance with the new Heat Decarbonization Standard. The state will be required to undertake an independent analysis of the natural gas distribution system which will be used as a verified set of data to use for future gas rate cases and other proposed gas system spending. This study will include audits of gas utility companies who will be responsible for the cost of the audits. IFCA is working with other ag and business groups in Springfield to inform legislators how important natural gas is to the fertilizer industry.