Password * Remember me New to Energy Central? Applying for membership with Energy Central allows you to connect with a network of more than 200,000 global power industry professionals. Dual-party endorsement for natural gas Though policymakers spent this session debating increased electrification and phasing out fossil fuel power plants, the bill’s bipartisan House vote (81-25) shows natural gas is still a top priority in the state – and for good reason. As the number one fuel source used by manufacturers in Illinois, an estimated 1,178.9 trillion Btu (British thermal units) of natural gas were consumed in 2019. Natural gas is the primary source of energy for the state’s manufacturers and its use by businesses has grown by 8 percent since 2019.