ILLINOIS (KHQA) — The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) and the Coalition for Community Solar Access pushed back against former President Donald Trump’s recent claim that solar and wind energy are driving record-high electricity costs.
On Aug. 20, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating:
“Any State that has built and relied on WINDMILLS and SOLAR for power are seeing RECORD BREAKING INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY COSTS. THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY! We will not approve wind or farmer destroying Solar. The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!! MAGA.”
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However, both the IPA and the Coalition argue that solar and wind power are actually reducing costs, not raising them.
Energy Costs Rising Due to Demand, Not Renewables
According to Stephanie Burgos-Veras, Senior Policy Manager for the Coalition for Community Solar Access, the spike in energy prices stems from increased demand, driven by technological growth, not renewable energy sources.
“Families across the country are seeing their prices go up. But the reason for that is because we’re having an energy supply issue. Demand is growing as more data centers come online and artificial intelligence expands. We haven’t seen this kind of load growth in over 15 years,” Burgos-Veras explained.
The IPA added that solar and wind energy are helping offset rising energy prices by providing cheaper and faster-to-deploy alternatives to fossil fuel-based power.
Clean Energy Keeps Costs Lower
According to IPA officials, renewables are among the most cost-effective energy sources available. States with higher levels of clean energy have seen some of the lowest electricity price increases nationwide.
“Prices are going up because we need to add more supply to the grid, not less. Clean energy brings cheaper, faster power to consumers,” Burgos-Veras said.
A recent analysis by Energy Innovation also concluded that rising energy bills are mainly linked to transmission and distribution expenses and natural gas price volatility, not the adoption of wind and solar.
Future of Solar in Illinois
Burgos-Veras expressed hope that Illinois lawmakers will pass SB40, a bill aimed at expanding solar farms and community solar programs across the state.
The IPA also emphasized that utility-scale solar and wind remain the most cost-effective options for meeting growing electricity demands, citing Lazard’s 2025 energy analysis.
For Illinois, officials say the data is clear: renewable energy lowers costs and strengthens long-term energy security.
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