Intersect Chair John Atkinson joined ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones and Chicagoland Chamber CEO and President Jack Lavin to discuss how energy helps attract and retain business in Illinois.
Photo courtesy of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
Intersect Illinois Chair John Atkinson joined ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Jack Lavin for a timely panel on how energy powers economic development at the Chicagoland Chamber’s “Chicago at a Crossroads” series.
Illinois had a banner year in economic development in 2023, winning projects including Gotion’s $2 billion EV lithium battery plant. Gotion selected Manteno for its gigafactory, which will create 2,600 jobs and further position the state as a leading EV manufacturing hub, after a competitive search that heavily involved utilities and energy capacity. The process of bringing Gotion to Manteno was a collaborative one. The panelists discussed how Team Illinois, a coalition of business, utility, state and local leaders, was critical in securing this historic project.
Photo courtesy of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
Attracting future investments, like Gotion, and transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 requires continual investment in the electric grid and coordination among key stakeholders. A robust energy ecosystem is critical for Illinois’ economic health in the long term, as 100% clean energy will double the electricity demand, Quinones noted. Vast amounts of energy are needed to power key Illinois industries such as data centers, advanced manufacturing, and quantum computing.
The future of energy is bright in Illinois. As a leader in the energy revolution in the U.S., Intersect looks forward to continuing to utilize the potential of energy and collaboration to attract business and investment to the state.
RELATED POSTS
