* Center Square…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he doesn’t expect to see a broad state energy plan come together during the General Assembly’s brief fall legislative session.
As lawmakers prepare to return to the state capital later this month for the fall session, a number of policy issues could be discussed – from gun control measures to e-cigarette regulations. […]
But the governor said doesn’t expect a broad energy plan to surface during the fall session.
“It certainly is something that’s being considered as part of a broader energy package,” Pritzker said. “I don’t know that we’ll be able to get to it during a veto session.”
Lawmakers are scheduled to come back for three days beginning Oct. 28 and then three days beginning Nov. 12.
As we’ve discussed before, a leadership determination was made in the spring to move all energy bills forward at once. But with ComEd facing some attention from the feds, nobody wants to touch their proposals.
* But some public support appears to be building for this proposal…
Pritzker has pushed a whole host of progressive legislation this year, and now the clean energy people want him to step up on this one.
- Ok - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:06 pm:
Don’t know how much longer he wants to be the only Dem Governor in the country to have done nothing on climate.
- Merica - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:09 pm:
shut down the coal plants. a tax subsidy for solar. let’s get every house on solar with batteries by 2030. a whole panel
kit with a battery is less than $15k. it pays for itself in less than 12 years. the state could aid in financing this.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:16 pm:
” let’s get every house on solar with batteries by 2030. a whole panel kit with a battery is less than $15k. it pays for itself in less than 12 years. the state could aid in financing this”
What form of coercion would you suggest to accomplish this ?
- Steve - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:25 pm:
Just what Illinois needs , higher energy prices via virtue signalling.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
I am in favor of two new nuclear plants being built in downstate Illinois.
- Career Politician 2.0 - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
Pushing a clean energy bill through veto session (limited session days) is reckless. This is an issue for spring session.
- PTown Cynic - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:41 pm:
“Just what Illinois needs, higher energy prices via virtue signalling.”
Ask the farmers with increased precipitation and lower yields how the virtual signaling is working out…which do you want to subsidize and at what costs?
I agree that forcing big policy into the veto session is a bad idea, but we have to do something. Climate change is here. Be a leader and create jobs and economic opportunities, or stay in the past and waste away in the fossil fuel energy.
- SpfdNewb - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:46 pm:
PTown, Career, I am in agreement. This is a serious issue with multiple parties involved. It needs to be done during the Spring session, veto session is just too short.
- Nobody Sent - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 2:51 pm:
FEJA was passed in veto session. The problem this time is that ComEd/Exelon have some PR problems related to some politicos. Usually no energy legislation gets passed in IL unless ComEd/Exelon get what they want, but many legislators don’t want to be seen supporting ComEd/Exelon given the perception. SO the result is likely no movement on saving the Earth because of politics, again.
- southsider - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 3:00 pm:
== SO the result is likely no movement on saving the Earth because of politics, again ==
It’s amusing you think that’s what the bill does. These are bailout bills with giveaways to solar and battery tech companies. None of this will save the earth. It only lines the pockets of capitalists disguised as environmentalists.
- Poster Boy - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 3:03 pm:
The deregulated energy market and lower rates that go with it were one of the last few competitive advantages Illinois had. Now we want to re-regulate the market through sweetheart incentives for fringe political groups???
- Roads Scholar - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 3:23 pm:
- Southsider - It only lines the pockets of capitalists disguised as environmentalists.
LOL. There are capitalist activities that severely harm the environment, and also those that do not. Environmentalists oppose the former and support (or are neutral to) the latter. Seems like your real beef is that changing power market dynamics are resulting in increasing commercial support for traditionally environmentalist policy demands.
- Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 4:05 pm:
I can’t understand why people want to pay more for electricity and let it be even less reliable. The only thing worse than a bunch of kids who don’t know what they’re talking about is weak-willed politicians that listen to them.
- PTown Cynic - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 5:06 pm:
Downstate,
Are you referring to future generations that will have to deal with the problems that negligent generations haven’t had the will to deal with before? If so, please see current fiscal issues in Illinois. We have robbed Peter to pay Paul in terms of pensions, infrastructure upgrades, the environment, etc. I would really like to know the solutions besides status quo, when “kids” have to deal with the issues? I’d like to know how is renewable energy less reliable? Do you know where your energy comes from? Have you driven through central Illinois and seen the unreliable wind mills?
- Froganon - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 5:36 pm:
@Downstate
Except that renewables cost less and have greater reliability. Big box companies are installing solar and buying wind because it is now a fraction of the cost of coal, gas and especially nuclear. The market is calling the shots. Utilities who refuse to embrace renewables in their business plans are charging the most for power. Lots of coal mines and coal fired plants are closing. It’s actually cheaper for customers to pay to close the coal plants and buy out their contracts while converting to solar and wind. Coal, gas and nuclear can’t compete without more subsidies (see Ohio bailout).
- Froganon - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 6:00 pm:
Check out the future of coal. Trump loves the free market except when it works.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/08/trumps-pledge-to-save-us-coal-is-failing-leaving-wyoming-in-crisis.html
- KBS - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 8:04 pm:
If we don’t get serious about climate change, none of the other progressive legislation will matter.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 8:52 pm:
Allow the Rock Island clean line along I-88 to Cook and collar counties.
- Just Me - Wednesday, Oct 9, 19 @ 10:36 pm:
When did we start allowing corrupt activity to stop action at the State House? I must have missed the memo that said Sandoval was removed from his leadership position.
- VoteQuimby - Thursday, Oct 10, 19 @ 8:46 am:
=Don’t know how much longer he wants to be the only Dem Governor in the country to have done nothing on climate.=
The man has been in office one year and already accomplished more than pretty much anyone else…
Legal Pot, Progressive Income Tax etc. He still has his term…
Will the EtO issue be resolved? Lake County groups seem to be falling the same path as Dupage…
- VoteQuimby - Thursday, Oct 10, 19 @ 9:04 am:
That’s following not falling…