Report details economic risk of proposed natural gas ban in Illinois
[June 21, 2025]
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Analysis by the Consumer Energy Alliance says a
potential natural gas ban in Illinois would cost the average homeowner
tens of thousands of dollars.
In 2024, state Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, proposed a bill to ban
natural gas in new buildings. A Chicago alderman, Maria Hadden,
introduced similar legislation backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson around
the same time.
Marc Brown, vice president of state affairs for the Consumer Energy
Alliance, said forced electrification would cost $55,000 for the average
single-family home.
“That includes when you’re redoing your panel, heat pumps, changing out
a gas furnace, all your appliances,” Brown told The Center Square.
Citing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the CEA
said forced electrification could increase Illinois utility bills by
$7.6 billion statewide or about $2,631 per household.
“When it comes to electric heating, it’s a little bit more expensive
than gas, so that drives up energy bills,” Brown added.
Brown said the move to ban natural gas is ideological, but most people
do not support it.
“They don’t want to be told what to do. I think it just comes from the
fringe when it comes to these draconian mandates,” Brown said.
Brown said costs would rise even more if proposed bans were expanded to
include the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
According to the CEA, Illinois manufacturers consume over 25% of the
state's natural gas. The state's agricultural community relies on
natural gas for crop drying.
Brown said other issues include rising electricity demand and warnings
about grid reliability.
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“Adding this layer of increased electricity load on top of that, we’re
seeing a little too much for the electricity grid,” Brown said.
According to regional grid operator PJM, energy is getting more
expensive.
"The reason is very simple: Supply is decreasing on the system and
demand is increasing. This is happening not just in PJM but all over the
country," PJM told The Center Square in a statement last month.
PJM said the decreased supply is primarily due to state and federal
decarbonization policies and some economics, including the proliferation
of data centers and the advancement of artificial intelligence.
Brown said gas industry improvements have fueled decreasing
energy-related carbon emissions in the U.S. while other countries
experienced increases.
“Natural gas is very clean. Companies have drastically reduced methane
leakage on the distribution pipeline system like 80-90% over the past
20-30 years,” Brown said.
The Environmental Defense Fund and Sierra Club Illinois chapter did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.
The CEA said banning or restricting natural gas could deepen energy
poverty and compromise grid reliability.
“Instead of eliminating energy choice, Illinois should embrace a diverse
and balanced approach to powering Illinois’ families, farmers and
businesses,” the report concluded.
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