Illinois’s commitment to sustainability has been recognized in the rankings from Site Selection Magazine. This year, the state earned the coveted top spot, ranking first in the list of U.S. states.

Site Selection magazine uses their annual ranking to provide a resource for companies when deciding where to expand their business with a focus on sustainable development. The magazine looks into development of green energy, green-certified buildings, incentives for green development, redevelopment of brownfields (locations where former industries have left toxins or other environmental dangers) and how well the states are meeting their own environmental goals.

The choice of Illinois for the top ranking reflects the commitment of the state and its businesses to creating a more sustainable economy. Illinois is rapidly expanding its electric vehicle industry – with a projected increase in manufacturing of 83% by 2024 - and ranks fifth in the U.S. for wind energy generation. These achievements are part of Illinois’ goal to have a clean energy economy by 2050 and will be supported by a recent $15 million investment aimed at promoting training programs focused on energy storage and electric vehicles.

Illinois also excelled in the rankings for green-certified buildings, having a significant number of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings, an increase from 2020 when the state was ranked third. Pairing an increase in companies focused on sustainability and increased state government investment in sustainable infrastructure, Illinois is likely to continue leading the country in sustainability efforts.