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How do we power the next century of growth? Not with more but with better infrastructure.

This commentary was originally published by Crain’s Chicago Business for Crain’s Forum.

Today, northeastern Illinois has affordable, reliable and clean power. It’s one of our competitive advantages. But the choices we make now will determine whether our region will thrive in a more electricity-dependent future characterized by advanced manufacturing, data centers, electrified freight and smart buildings.

We are in a moment where electricity-intensive industries are transforming northeastern Illinois’ economy. At the same time, we need to transition from fossil fuels to electricity across buildings, vehicles and industry to meet our region’s climate goals. Economic growth and climate action can no longer be discussed separately.

We’ve led in this space before. More than a century ago, Chicago helped shape the modern electric system. We have the opportunity to lead the next century of modern grid infrastructure.

Illinois’ electricity use could more than double by 2050 as buildings, transportation and industry electrify and electricity-intensive industries continue to grow.

The shift is already underway: More than one-third of Illinois freight carriers expect to operate electric trucks within the next decade. In this future, a single high-volume truck charging hub could require as much electricity as the city of Woodstock — with about 25,000 people — illustrating how concentrated new demand will reshape the local grid.

Planning for economic growth, climate action, land use, and the electric grid can no longer happen independently. Our region needs new partnerships and shared knowledge across sectors to solve these system-level challenges — together.

That is the purpose of The Century Plan, which will define priorities and a shared vision for a better, stronger future for northeastern Illinois. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is leading the development of The Century Plan on behalf of the region.

Leaders and stakeholders from government, business, utilities and civic organizations are pointing to the electric grid as critical shared infrastructure that needs regional solutions.

Beyond generating more electricity, a modern grid will need targeted upgrades — substations, local lines, energy storage and clean energy — for the whole system to run efficiently. We also need to make better use of the infrastructure we already have. Success will not depend solely on building more infrastructure, but on developing a smarter, more flexible and more resilient system.

Building a better grid is increasingly a place-based challenge. The physics of electricity is meeting the physical reality of our communities. There are optimal locations to invest in grid infrastructure to support the performance of the whole grid. Where grid investments occur will influence reliability, competitiveness and how much families and businesses pay for power.

For most of our history, we planned the energy system around how communities developed. Now the dynamic has reversed: Growth must consider what the grid can support. Increasingly, choices about land and development are also choices about the energy system.

This shift creates opportunities. Development that builds on existing infrastructure is often less expensive to serve than growth requiring major new investments. Strategically placing local energy and storage projects can strengthen the grid while maximizing the capacity we already have.

Thoughtful, proactive, and collaborative planning now will help our region balance new development and climate goals — and reduce conflict over where energy infrastructure belongs.

Solving for tomorrow, today

The Century Plan is a shared, overarching vision for northeastern Illinois that will guide policies for transportation, the environment, and the economy for decades into the future.

Throughout 2026 and 2027, CMAP is bringing together regional decision-makers and action-takers from government, civic, business, and community organizations to think big about the challenges and opportunities facing northeastern Illinois. Together, we’ll set a path for systems that support transportation, the economy, and the environment — with priorities defined by the region, for the region. The journey is just beginning, and we invite you to join the ride!