By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – A plan to phase out fossil fuels, promote renewable energy, and create jobs could come out of the Illinois House session Thursday. But not everybody is that optimistic.
And aren’t these energy bills just a big kiss for Big Energy and higher rates for us?
“The governor and the General Assembly are asking ratepayers to pay nearly $700 million a year in additional costs. This creates an aspirational goal of forty percent renewables by the year 2030,” said Illinois Manufacturers’ Association president Mark Denzler. “The problem is (with) all the current renewables … we’re still left at ten percent.”
Disagreeing: Jack Darin, Illinois director of the Sierra Club. “That is one striking difference between the way this legislation has been developed and the way it used to be,” he said. “Of course, the companies that own the grid have to be consulted when we are designing the grid of the future.”
While the coal- and gas-fired utilities would still shut down by 2045, under the new proposal they would have to sharply reduce emissions — 45 percent — by 2035 to stay open.
In a written statement, House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) said, “I am pleased to see negotiations moving forward on a comprehensive energy proposal that prioritizes a greener future for Illinois, as well as meaningful ethics reform and maintaining our current workforce. I cannot thank (House negotiators) enough for their dedication and ensuring all stakeholders are heard throughout this process. I am confident that we will have a plan that Illinois can be proud of and will be viewed as a model for many other states.”
The Senate passed an energy bill during last week’s one-day session.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].
