The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Illinois’ leading small business advocacy organization, submitted comments highlighting the importance of energy options to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) as part of the ICC’s Future of Gas Proceedings.

“Energy costs are forcing small business owners to raise prices, delay investments, and cut staff and services,” said NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley. “At a time of high electricity prices, Illinois needs more energy options, not less. If policymakers want to ensure Illinois remains competitive, they must avoid burdensome mandates that drive up energy costs or limit cost-effective options like natural gas.”

NFIB has been a consistent voice on this issue. State Director Noah Finley recently published an opinion editorial about the need for energy choices, not rate hikes, for small businesses. NFIB also recently joined a petition calling on the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to “terminate or suspend the Future of Natural Gas proceeding, including all workshops and issues associated with decarbonization of the gas distribution system….”

In a recent ballot of NFIB members in Illinois, 98% were opposed to governmental action to “limit or ban the use of natural gas and other fossil fuels.”

The Future of Gas Proceedings were initiated by the ICC in 2024, “to explore issues tied to decarbonization of the gas distribution system.” It has held a series of workshops since 2024 and discussed proposals that would limit or make more expensive the use of natural gas. The comments were submitted in response to the Future of Gas Proceedings’ Phase 2C Summary Report.

The full text of the letter can be found here.