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* How is holding up this money helping the economy?…
The state has completed a plan to jump-start the solar-panel industry in Illinois with approval of $30 million worth of energy purchases from new such projects.
The Illinois Commerce Commission today approved the third of three competitive procurements conducted by the Illinois Power Agency. All told, the five-year contracts will allow for the construction of roughly 1,000 small-scale solar projects throughout the state, totaling about 30 megawatts of capacity.
The money comes from a state clean energy fund. Under state law, retail electricity suppliers must pay into the fund annually based on how much business they’re doing in the state.
Even though the source of the cash is residential and commercial customers of retail electricity suppliers, the funds are subject to state appropriations. With the state still operating without a budget thanks to the impasse between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats in the Legislature, the IPA can’t spend the money. […]
At 30 megawatts, the procurements are a small first step for Illinois. Other states have been more aggressive in incentivizing small-scale solar projects. New Jersey, for example, has installed more than 1,000 megawatts—about the capacity of a nuclear reactor.
Ugh. On so many levels.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 1:03 pm
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“A hostage is a hostage until there is a risk that I’ll get rolled by a GOP defection.” Faux Gov Rauner.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 1:11 pm
“How is holding up this money helping the economy?”
When someone repeatedly takes actions that do not advance that person’s stated goals, shouldn’t one presume that those actions are intended to advance an unstated goal?
I’ll take my answer off the air…
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 1:18 pm
Yep, California the land of fruits and nuts, right? Almost 30% of all energy is renewable servicing 40 million people. Fixed their income tax without mass migrations, going toward a livable wage. Pension situation solved without stealing from those that earned it. Now legislature fights over how to spend 8 billion surplus. Illinois is a joke.
Comment by Kooky in Kalifornia Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Minor clarification: the Illinois Power Authority does not pay money up front. Bidding was completed earlier this week. Winning bidders have 12-18 months to build the new solar panels. All of the systems bid in are new, none should be creating renewable energy credits yet. Once operating, the IPA pays based on renewable energy credits generated and transferred to the IPA. Payment is up to 18-24 months off for many of the latest crop.
The latest bidding took place in March. The state’s budget situation was known at the time of bidding.
Still not good, but social services that are threatening or actually closing are much better examples.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 1:46 pm
While 1,000 MW of solar sounds equivalent to 1,000 MW of a nuclear plant (or natural gas or coal plant for that matter) the output is significantly different. A 1,000 MW nuke produces power about 90% of the hours of the year. Solar, by its nature, only produces power about 15% of the hours of the year. Therefore, it would take about 6,000 MW of solar to equal the output of a 1,000 MW nuke (or coal, or gas) plant. And then, it is still only available during daytime. And each MW of a photovoltaic solar system covers about 4 acres of land. Therefore, 1,000 MW of PV would require about 4,000 acres of ground. None of this is good or bad in the abstract. But a mix of resources is going to be necessary for a long time to meet the state’s need.
Comment by Phil Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Fake Durkin- “But we don’t have the money… Oh, wait we do, but…but…”
Fake Sandack- “So….explain to me where the money is gonna come from! OK! It can’t just fall out of the sky. What’s that??? We have the money??? We have all along… Really???”
Fake Radogno- “There have to be sacrifices. There just isn’t enough sun for everyone. And the eclipse is coming. It just can’t be funded until we do something about the moon.”
Real Rauner- “Where’s my broom!”
(End of snark).
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 1:48 pm
Kooky makes a good point - CA was a state that was in far worse shape than ours (in terms of dollars, not percentages). They have fixed and recovered. It is possible to turn our state around - but Rauner has got to start by doing something. Anything.
Comment by siriusly Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 2:02 pm
Enough with the consumer paid subsidies.
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 2:07 pm
I don’t know if this is the same pot, but the DCEO energy efficiency funds are collected in the same way and are also held up. I had a $25,000 lighting retrofit project with a 7 month payback cancelled last May. The contractor who put together that proposal and was going to do the work is hurtin for certain during this impasse
Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 2:38 pm
It’s not the same pot. This is the Renewable Energy Resources Fund and the reason they would hold it up is that the governor swept it last year and probably wants to do the same this year.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 3:27 pm
“I have no energy agenda.”
Comment by Biker Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 3:40 pm
== CA was a state that was in far worse shape than ours (in terms of dollars, not percentages). ==
The major difference between the pension “reform” actions taken by CA and IL is CA made their tax increase permanent.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 3:44 pm