Chicago: Growing a Clean Energy Ecosystem

Chicago’s history is steeped in innovation. The pulse of the city resonates from railroads and canals, built by tycoons of the industrial age, echoed by steel and glass announcing an iconic vision for a skyline. Traditionally the anchor of the Midwest, Chicago is well positioned to emerge as a powerhouse in the evolving energy landscape. A growing global economy, boosted by a plethora of startups infusing the scene with youthful excitement, is propelling the city to the top of the clean energy leaderboard.

Recent reports show Chicago rounding out the nation’s top 10 clean technology cities ranked by the US Cleantech Leadership Index. Marks of this growth are visible in the ever-expanding 1871, Chicago's most notable incubator and co-working space, and in the parallel ventures of WeWork, Industrious, Level Office and TechNexus. Young companies are flocking to these spaces, taking advantage of communal accommodations and networking opportunities, and Chicago’s leaders are backing the move. Mayor Emmanuel’s administration took an active role in supporting public-private partnerships, namely with ChicagoNEXT, to attract entrepreneurs and foster growth in science and tech.

Going beyond these startup havens are specialized resources, including Clean Energy Trust, who have established themselves as a crucial component in Chicago’s clean tech foundation. Their toolkit includes program partnerships with Argonne National Lab’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, Cleantech Innovation Bridge and Midwest Energy Accelerator. A flagship event, the Clean Energy Challenge, hosted in April, awarded $1m in funding to clean tech startups from the Midwest. This investment advances Clean Energy Trust’s already substantial stake in clean tech innovation.

Providing tailored support to Chicago clean tech startups gives the city’s entrepreneurs an edge over the competition. Clean Energy Trust programming is developed with commercialization in mind, and provides unique opportunities available for startups to forge connections with major corporations. Chicago’s entrepreneur game isn’t limited to seasoned professionals though. Amy Francetic, CEO of Clean Energy Trust, has championed millennial and women-lead startups, and has voiced her support for investing in youth to break the cycle of political apathy toward clean energy and climate change.

 Tapping into the power of Chicago’s student body is key to success in this city. Renowned universities provide a wealth of researchers, labs, and ambitious young minds to tackle pressing energy issues. University of Chicago, Northwestern, Illinois Institute of Technology, and University of Illinois-Chicago are each charging ahead, developing competitive programs and research institutes to produce the next most innovative inventors, and inventions. The Clean Energy Challenge has seen the fruits of those labors, with student teams developing game changing products. Take LuminAID, a University of Chicago alumni Challenge winner and Shark Tank dealmaker, who provide inflatable solar lights around the world. Or AMPY, the smallest wearable motion charger on the market, letting you dance your way to full iPhone battery, whose founders were educated at Northwestern University.

Chicago’s growing clean tech scene is also making it a destination for like-minded entrepreneurs abroad, and global exposure is rising. Recently, Clean Energy Trust took part in the World Chicago Tech Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fellowship Program, welcoming the editor-in-chief of a Slovenian energy media source to the fold for the month of May. She found Chicago’s clean tech opportunities impressive, and was excited by the level of clean energy innovation occurring within the city. A friend of Clean Energy Trust, Felipe Gomez del Campo, and founder of portfolio company FGC Plasma Solutions, was recently honored at the White House as an Emerging Global Entrepreneur. Originally from Mexico City, Felipe is now a junior at Case Western Reserve and went on to compete and represent the Midwest at the National Clean Energy Student Business Plan Competition in Washington DC. These are two prime examples of top-notch innovators growing their success in Chicago and the Midwest.

Additionally, Clean Energy Trust is working on the ground locally to understand how policy shapes the clean energy future of Illinois and Chicago. The 2015 Clean Jobs Illinois report announced over 100,000 clean energy jobs, solidifying Illinois ranking as a top 10 clean energy state, the only in the Midwest. The findings of that report are echoed in legislation recently introduced in Illinois, known as the Clean Jobs Bill. With the support of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, the bill carries significant public and private endorsements and is focused on improving renewable energy job growth and funding clean tech research and development.

Chicago is home to a diverse, dedicated population of trailblazers who are steering the city toward the front lines of the clean energy revolution. Our deep roots as an industrial town gave us the foundation to build on, and a penchant for reaching new heights has always driven our pioneering spirit. We’ve seen the value of investing in a clean energy future, and we’re leading a mission to advance innovation at home and around the world.