DeKalb Times

On Sept. 15, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law the controversial energy bill that had been the subject of debate for years.

“While I wish I could have supported this bill to save the Byron Nuclear Plant, the fact is this energy package does more harm to the people of this state than it does to protect them," Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) said in a press release. “The Governor and his allies have created a no-win situation with this energy proposal, holding Byron and other nuclear facilities hostage. Under this proposal, the only way Byron was to be allowed to remain open was if lawmakers supported the largest utility rate increase in Illinois history and awarded massive subsidies to wind and solar energy companies. Yet, even then, Byron will only remain open until 2028."

The 1,000-page bill includes a bailout of nearly $700 million for Exelon, the parent company of ComEd. It protects state-owned coal plants, but certain municipal plants must be completely carbon-free by 2045. Private sector coal plants must close by 2030. The bill will require Illinois taxpayers to spend $18 billion over the next 30 years for wind and solar projects. It infringes on private property rights in nine counties, giving private companies eminent domain authority in the building of a transmission line.

The bill was debated in the Illinois legislature for over two years, held up initially by disagreements between labor unions and environmental groups.

“For the past two years, we have tried to find a compromise that recognized the importance of Illinois’ nuclear fleet while also supporting wind and solar companies. But we’ve been ignored. Instead, we are left with a bill that will accelerate job loss, undercut Illinoisan’s energy reliability with no viable replacements, and bolster the economies of our neighboring states to the detriment of hardworking Illinoisans. The damage will be irreversible," said Syverson. “This proposal could have helped safeguard the future of our state’s nuclear presence, but the Majority Party prioritized bailouts and subsidies over what was best for Illinois homeowners and job creators. I’m disappointed that I could not support this energy package, but this proposal was merely a Band-Aid fix for Byron with permanent consequences for ratepayers and businesses.”

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) celebrated the Senate's passing of SB 2408.  After it passed by a vote of 37-17, the ICJC released a statement praising Pritzker and all other advocates of the bill.

“The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition applauds the Senate on today’s passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. We are on the verge of history in Illinois, poised to take significant steps to address our climate crisis, create equitable, good-paying jobs across the state particularly in Black and Brown communities, and enact tough utility accountability measures," the ICJC said in its press release.