The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will be at the forefront of helping develop the next generation of energy.

Environmental groups are criticizing state regulators for a decision involving Ameren Illinois. The state Commerce Commission is letting the power company reduce its goals for energy efficiency. 

The Illinois Commerce Commission has tapped engineers at the University of Illinois to help determine the future of energy in the state.

An Illinois House committee has endorsed a late-hour compromise on a monstrous energy plan originally designed to keep two unprofitable nuclear plants open, potentially saving 14-hundred jobs in Clinton and the Quad Cities. A House vote is expected Thursday, the last day of the fall veto session. Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet credits Gov. Bruce Rauner with becoming part of the talks with energy officials.

Utlity company Ameren has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission for an electric delivery rate decrease.  If approved, it's not known how much the change will impact bills, but it wouldn't go into effect until January 2017.  Ameren gas customers are also expected to see a reduction now in their bills due to a drop in the cost of natural gas.