* Tribune…
After the Illinois Senate voted in the wee hours Wednesday to approve an energy policy overhaul that includes a nearly $700 million bailout for Exelon, parent of scandal-plagued Commonwealth Edison, the company gave lawmakers and Gov. J.B. Pritzker an ultimatum: finalize a deal in the next 12 days or face the permanent closure of one of the state’s six nuclear power plants. […]
“While we currently have no choice but to continue preparing for their premature retirement, we have established offramps that will allow us to reverse that decision if lawmakers pass legislation with enough time for us to safely refuel the plants,” Exelon spokesman Paul Adam said in a statement Wednesday. “To be clear, Byron will run out of fuel and will permanently shut down on Sept. 13 unless legislation is enacted.”
It’s not like filing up your tank with gas. Refueling a nuclear power plant is a complicated and involved process. They’ll need a bill passed well before the 13th, but I haven’t yet gotten a solid answer on what the actual drop-dead date is. Still checking.
…Adding… The full statement still doesn’t really give us an idea of an absolute deadline date…
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Fox News peddles fabricated Ezike quote
Wednesday, Sep 1, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Fox News Channel…
The Illinois Department of Health director allegedly recently said that “masks are as effective as vaccines” amid a push to crack down on mask wearing in schools.
“If we actually want our kids to be in school for in-person learning, masking is a great protection and our best bet,” Dr. Ngozi Ezike said last Thursday, according to Chalkbeat. “The bottom line is that masks are as effective as vaccines are.”
That last sentence is a totally fabricated quote.
* Here’s what she said…
“If we actually want our kids to be in school for in-person learning, masking is a great protection and our best bet,” Ezike said Thursday. “The bottom line is that masks are effective. Vaccines are effective.”
* Instead of, you know, spending a few seconds actually reading the Chalkbeat story, Fox News just took this person’s word for it…
Ridiculous.
…Adding… Fox News has now updated its story…
The Illinois Department of Public Health later told Fox News Wednesday that Ezike was inaccurately quoted in the Chalkbeat article, and had actually said during a press conference last Thursday: “If we actually want our kids to be in school for in-person learning, masking is a great protection and our best bet. The bottom line is masks are effective. Vaccines are effective.”
The original quote, however, ignited criticisms on social media this week, with one Twitter user saying, “If the goal is to increase vax uptake — and we know both Illinois & Chicago, uptake is lowest among Black & Latinx residents — Dr Ezike’s statement is at-odds with equity goals.”
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Local react to Texas abortion ban
Wednesday, Sep 1, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Washington Post…
A Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy took effect Wednesday, as a midnight deadline for the Supreme Court to stop it came and went without action.
The court could still grant a request from abortion providers to halt the law, one of the nation’s most restrictive. But for now, abortion providers in Texas, including Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health, said they will no longer terminate pregnancies more than six weeks from a woman’s last period.
Providers said the law — which relies on private citizens to sue people who help women get forbidden abortions — effectively eliminates the guarantee in Roe v. Wade and subsequent Supreme Court decisions that women have a right to end their pregnancies before viability, and that states may not impose undue burdens on that decision.
If the Supreme Court declines to stop the law, the most likely challenge would come after it is utilized by a private citizen. Then the person sued could contest the constitutionality of the law, with the backing of abortion providers and abortion-rights groups.
* AP…
In a phone call with reporters early Wednesday, Marc Hearron, a lawyer for the Center for Reproductive Rights, said that “as of now, most abortion is banned in Texas.” Hearron said the abortion providers his group represents were still hoping to hear from the Supreme Court.
They have said the law would rule out 85% of abortions in Texas and force many clinics to close. Planned Parenthood is among the abortion providers that have stopped scheduling abortions beyond six weeks from conception. […]
At least 12 other states have enacted bans on abortion early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect.
What makes the Texas law different is its unusual enforcement scheme. Rather than have officials responsible for enforcing the law, private citizens are authorized to sue abortion providers and anyone involved in facilitating abortions. Among other situations, that would include anyone who drives a woman to a clinic to get an abortion. Under the law, anyone who successfully sues another person would be entitled to at least $10,000.
* I’ve received several reactions to the development and am posting everything in my inbox. Here’s Governor Pritzker’s campaign…
Today Governor JB Pritzker released a statement condemning the passage and implementation of Texas Senate Bill 8. The legislation that goes into effect today effectively eliminates access to abortion after six weeks, and allows virtually any private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who they view as aiding in violating the new ban.
“An attack on reproductive freedom in Texas is an attack on reproductive freedom in Illinois and every state across the country. I’m proud that we passed the most comprehensive law in the nation to protect women’s rights to make their own health care decisions no matter what happens at the Supreme Court. But make no mistake—abortion rights are on the ballot in 2022 and Republicans will do everything in their power to strip them away. That’s why it’s so critical to elect Democrats up and down the ballot across Illinois.”
Governor JB Pritzker has fought for women’s reproductive rights his entire life and in 2019 he signed The Reproductive Health Act, the most comprehensive abortion rights bill in the country, into law.
* ACLU of Illinois…
Overnight, the Supreme Court of the United States failed to act on a request to block a new, sweeping and unconstitutional abortion ban in Texas from going into effect. The following statement can be attributed to Ameri Klafeta, Director of the Women’s and Reproductive Rights Project at the ACLU of Illinois:
This is a sad day in our country. As a result of inaction overnight by the Supreme Court, a sweeping, clearly unconstitutional abortion ban is now in effect in the State of Texas. After a half-century of constant attacks fueled by misinformation and lies, the right to access reproductive health care is now denied to millions of people today.
The Texas law cruelly bans abortion care as early as six weeks – before many people even know they are pregnant. The measure also allows individuals – literally anyone even if they have no connection to a patient – to sue doctors, health care workers and even friends who support someone in accessing abortion care after six weeks. Such provisions stand in direct opposition to the principles enshrined in Roe v. Wade, making the Court’s inaction all the more disturbing.
Residents of Illinois can take slight solace in this moment. Legislators in recent years have extended critical protections for all seeking reproductive health care in Illinois – measures signed by Governor Rauner and Governor Pritzker. We must continue to defend and expand those protections. We recommit ourselves to this effort today as we think of the millions of people across the United States who now are at risk of losing their access to abortion due to the Court’s failure to act.
* Personal PAC…
Thirty years ago, Illinois was one of the most anti-choice states in the nation with a “trigger law,” spousal consent for an abortion, and bans on IVF while Texas was one of the most pro-choice states in the country. Remember pro-choice Texas Governor Ann Richards?
As of today, Texas is now the state with the most cruel anti-abortion laws in the nation—a ban on abortion after six weeks, before most women even know they are pregnant, and with no exceptions for rape and incest. The other provision allows for a $10,000 bounty for turning in anyone who assisted with any aspect of an abortion. It’s called the totalitarian state right in front of our eyes in these United States.
Today, Illinois is almost a state that protects women who seek reproductive health care.
Texas and Illinois are one story: Elections Have VERY SERIOUS Consequences.
Right in front of our eyes, candidates who want for Illinois women what Texas women now live under are running for Governor, Attorney General and the Illinois General Assembly, where 22 Texas-like anti-abortion bills are patiently waiting for a vote—and the next election to seize the opportunity.
We simply can’t let these misogynists win in 2022 like they did in Texas.
* Planned Parenthood Illinois Action…
Access to abortion is hanging by an increasingly thinning thread. With the six-week abortion ban taking effect today in Texas, we can expect many other states to follow their lead. The 2021 legislative season is already the most hostile year for reproductive health and rights in history, with many of our neighboring states enacting medically-unnecessary and extreme laws with the sole purpose of banning abortion. We know that abortion bans don’t stop people from having abortions. Bans only make it more difficult to access essential health care.
Illinois passed the Reproductive Health Act in 2019, which ensures abortion will remain legal in our state even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, and positions Illinois as a safe haven for the region. Already, we are seeing patients from other states who have been forced to travel long distances to access abortion care, which has been legal in the United States for nearly 50 years.
People who have abortions are our family, friends, and neighbors. Everyone deserves the freedom to make their own medical decisions, in consultation with their families and their doctors and free from political interference. Access to essential care should never depend on where you live or how much money you make.
We will never stop fighting to help everyone access the health care they need and deserve.
So far, anyway, I’ve received nothing from any anti-abortion groups, politicians or political parties.
…Adding… Robin Kelly, Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois…
“What we are seeing in Texas is an unconstitutional assault on women everywhere. This radical law to essentially ban abortion will hurt women of color and low-come women in particular. Like so many issues, Illinois Democrats lead the nation in protecting and expanding a woman’s right to her own healthcare decisions and our fight is far from over.”
Still nothing from anyone on the other side.
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Never assume
Wednesday, Sep 1, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Capitol News Illinois…
The Illinois House failed to muster the votes Tuesday to accept Gov. JB Pritzker’s amendatory veto to an ethics bill that passed nearly unanimously earlier this year.
Pritzker issued the amendatory veto of Senate Bill 539 Friday, saying he supports the legislation but would like to see a minor change in language dealing with the office of executive inspector general.
The Senate approved that technical change unanimously, but the trouble for the governor came in the House as Republicans removed their support for the bill and not enough Democrats remained in the chamber just before 10 p.m. Tuesday to reach the three-fifths vote needed for it to pass. […]
The bill passed the General Assembly on the final day of the spring session, June 1, by overwhelming majorities – 56-0 in the Senate; 113-5 in the House – even though many Republicans complained that they didn’t think the bill went far enough.
Soon after it passed, Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope announced that she would resign, effective Dec. 15, calling the job a “paper tiger” and saying it showed that “true ethics reform is not a priority” for the General Assembly. She specifically alleged the provision limiting her ability to investigate non-governmental ethics violations, and the fact that a complaint would be required for an investigation, tied her hands.
The House Democrats just assumed the Republicans would be for the AV motion and were completely taken by surprise when it failed to garner enough votes to pass.
But this is a renewable motion, so all they have to do is accept it when they come back to town.
…Adding… This is a really good point in comments that my sleep-deprived brain did not consider…
== - King Louis XVI - Wednesday, Sep 1, 21 @ 12:15 pm:
Madigan would not have made such a mistake. He could count. ==
How was it a mistake? Several targeted GOP members voted against prohibiting elected officials from lobbying. I’d say the new Speaker knew exactly what he was doing when they took a roll call vote knowing full well more than a dozen of their members had already left.
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[Bumped up to Wednesday for visibility]
* After strong hope for a deal on the climate/energy bill earlier today, the governor and the House Speaker are not going along with the proposal pushed by the Senate Democrats late this afternoon and heard in committee.
At this moment (and things can and do change), it appears that the House will vote on the newly revised remap plan, take up veto messages and then adjourn. It’s still “to be determined” when the chamber will return.
Speaker Welch said yet again this week that he wouldn’t move forward with a bill if all the stakeholders were not in agreement, and they’re not, so that’s that for now.
Stay tuned.
…Adding… The House has passed the remap bill with 73 Democratic votes.
* Leader Durkin…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) released the following statement on the Illinois Democrats’ passage of partisan maps today:
“Today’s vote confirms that the Illinois Democrats have no interest in honest government. Contrary to their campaign promises, the House Democrats passed a legislative map that lacks any transparency or public input. After lying to taxpayers once, the Governor now has the opportunity to live up to his campaign promises and veto this politician-drawn map.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** Opposition from House Republicans on a motion to accept the governor’s amendatory veto of the ethics bill caused the sponsor to pull the bill from the record. The Democrats don’t have enough members present to accept the AV (71 votes) tonight. They’ll take it up when they return to town.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Democrats put the motion back up on the board and it failed with just 59 votes. It’s a renewable motion, however.
*** UPDATE 3 *** The Senate has decided to add the climate/energy bill language to a Senate bill and send it over to the House tonight. Doing it that way means the House can amend the bill as well. The ball will soon be in the House’s court, in other words.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Since so many House Democrats cleared out before the ethics motion roll call, it’s pretty safe to assume that there will be no session tomorrow.
…Adding… I’m told SB18 is the new energy bill vehicle.
*** UPDATE 5 *** The Senate approved the climate/energy bill with 39 votes. Its fate in the House is certain: It’s gonna be significantly changed before it’s sent back to the Senate for concurrence. Senate President Harmon said he believes the governor and House Speaker “can get this done in a matter of days.”
*** UPDATE 6 *** Pritzker administration…
The Governor’s Office looks forward to working with members of the House to finalize an energy package that puts consumers and climate first. The Governor’s Office is in discussions with stakeholders to ensure that Prairie State and CWLP’s closure in 2045 includes real interim emissions reductions consistent with previous bill drafts, and is committed to working with the General Assembly to address some drafting errors in the Senate bill that the Governor raised during talks today because they could have unintended legal consequences.
BACKGROUND
Provisions to be reworked
1. The Senate draft requires project labor agreements (i.e. you have to use union labor) on all utility scale projects with public utility REC contracts and there are several places where the bill requires a PLA to even be a regulated entity that gets some benefit from the state (see, e.g. p. 271: you can’t be a high voltage direct current transmission facility unless you have entered into a PLA; p. 368-369: renewable resources are only “deemed generated in Illinois….if the high voltage transmission line was (i) constructed with a project labor agreement…” This is likely preempted by federal law, and is not the only provision with similar issues. If a court finds a provision of the bill unconstitutional, it could delay or prevent every piece of the bill from taking effect: including the critical funding for wind and solar and the right sized subsidy for the Byron and Dresden nuclear plants. The Governor’s office recommended that problematic provisions be removed and the Senate refused.
2. The bill does not update the rollover solar language, despite the fact that refunds began going back to ratepayers last week (on 8/26).
3. Provisions relating to State hiring of displaced energy workers (Page 128, line 10). These interfere with all state hiring practices, including Shakman-related compliance. The Governor’s Office and the Clean Jobs Coalition previously agreed to remove this provision.
4. Remove references and language for several bills that are now law: amendments to the High Impact Business Program, HB 165, which created the Prairie Research Institute carbon capture advisory group, and SB 265, which made critical changes to the Energy Assistance Act. Keeping this language could create conflicts with already enacted law.
Provisions that should be added
1. Alternative Fuels Act rewrite to use existing funds to create a $4,000 rebate for consumers who purchase an electric vehicle.
2. The bill removes the elimination of customer deposit requirements for low-income utility residential customers, a key priority for the Governor’s Office to ensure low income consumers are protected.
* Press release…
Following the Senate’s passage of a landmark piece of legislation that will cement Illinois’ status as a leader in the clean energy sector and save thousands of jobs, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) released the following statement:
“After years of difficult negotiations, a broad coalition of stakeholders came to a bipartisan agreement that will define the future of clean energy in Illinois. The Illinois Senate, and the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee, refuse to allow ratepayers to foot the bill for a transition to a cleaner energy future that did not include our valued nuclear fleet. We traveled the state, conducted thorough hearings and made clear in negotiations that good-paying jobs and our environment must be preserved at all costs. This starts with our nuclear fleet, the most precious natural resource the state of Illinois can offer.
“We came together to win a must win battle to not only save jobs and generate clean energy, but to create new ethical standards for utility companies. The result of this agreement is the preservation of 28,000 direct and indirect jobs and $149 million in local economic impact, maintaining our dominance in the energy generation market space, and allowing us to reach our renewable goals. Greed has run rampant in Illinois for far too long, forcing many to pay the price for the actions of a greedy few. Under this legislation, those who cast a dark cloud over our state’s government will be held to the highest ethical standards.”
…Adding… Press release…
Path to 100 Coalition Thanks Illinois Senate, Urges Quick Passage of Omnibus Energy Legislation
We thank the Illinois Senate for passing SB18, the strongest clean energy, pro-climate legislation in the country. The renewable energy provisions in this legislation would reverse the job losses happening now, and they would make the state the national leader in growing equitable clean energy jobs and fighting climate change. SB18’s bipartisan support reflects the widespread support for strong clean energy policy in Illinois.
We urge Governor Pritzker and Speaker Welch to act quickly to resolve any outstanding issues while preserving the critical renewable energy policies that all parties agreed to after years of negotiations.
Until this legislation becomes law the Illinois renewable energy program will remain broken. Our industry is losing jobs daily and our state is falling further behind other midwestern states in developing the clean energy sector. Rooftop solar installations in Illinois have fallen by more than 90% since last year, and more than 6,000 solar projects remain waitlisted and will not be built without the policies in SB18. For the thousands of families supported by renewable energy jobs in Illinois, the urgency remains very real.
Speaker Welch and the Illinois House have an opportunity to deliver an energy bill that will make Illinois a model for a just transition to a clean energy economy. But to seize this opportunity, the House must act soon.
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* Four days ago…
The Carlyle, Illinois school district that previously defied Governor J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate has reversed course after a spike in COVID cases and several students forced to quarantine.
From elementary through high school, Carlyle Community Unit School District No. 1 has fewer than 1,000 kids.
A school board member confirms to 5 On Your Side more than 150 are already in quarantine just two weeks into the year with close to 30 testing positive for COVID-19.
That number could be even higher. The state said Thursday 40 people had tested positive and more than 200 students were going into quarantine.
* But then our old pal Thomas DeVore intervened…
A judge in Clinton County Court says the Carlyle School District does not have the authority to quarantine students.
As a result, a temporary injunction was issued Monday in favor of two Carlyle Unit School District parents whose children had been quarantined.
The attorney for the parents, Thomas DeVore, says the law is clear that only a county health department can quarantine a student and tell them when they can return to class. He argued the school district could not take over the role of quarantining students just because they were not getting the assistance they wanted from the county health department.
DeVore says while the temporary injunction only covers the two children named in the lawsuit, he doubts the school district would continue with their quarantine practice now that they know a judge has ruled against it.
The judge’s TRO is here.
What DeVore wants to do is force either the local county health department or the state Department of Public Health to go to court to quarantine each and every individual student, which is ridiculous.
* But the joke’s on him. The TRO includes this language...
Nothing in this order shall be construed to prohibit the District from implementing a school wide, or district wide, remote learning program.
And that’s exactly what Carlyle Community Unit School District #1 has done. I called over there this morning and they confirmed the district sent everyone home for remote learning on Friday and it will last throughout this week.
So, the truly bizarre folks who got all upset that their kids would miss school because they caught or have been exposed to COVID-19 have managed to shut down in-person learning for everyone in the district.
Complete, utter insanity.
*** UPDATE *** Another DeVore special…
Motions for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against the Quincy School District and superintendent Roy Webb were filed at the Adams County Courthouse late Monday afternoon by an attorney representing three Quincy families.
The motions were filed by Thomas Devore, a Sorento, Ill., attorney with Silver Lake Group, Ltd., in Greenville, on behalf of plaintiffs Scott and Jamie Lowary and their child, Christina Terwelp and her child, and Travis and Ashley Oshner and their minor child.
The motion for the temporary restraining order asks to allow the children of the three families to “continue their in-person education upon the premises of the district until such time as an order of quarantine might issue against the children.” The motion for the preliminary injunction would allow the children of the plaintiffs to immediately “resume their in-person education unless the (Adams) County Health Department or the Illinois Department of Health has provided defendants with a lawful order of quarantine.” […]
Oshner wrote on his Facebook page that “QHS kicked (his son) out of lunch for his mesh mask” on Aug. 20.
* In other news…
* ISBE rejects Anna-Jonesboro’s request to use COVID relief money on football turf
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* Click here for the revised House map released this morning and click here for the new Senate map. The House Democrats have scheduled a 10:45 hearing this morning for the redistricting committee in Room 114.
* Mark Maxwell…
In the House, Democrats drew the following Republicans into the same legislative districts:
• Representatives Mike Murphy (R-Springfield) and Avery Bourne (R-Raymond)
• Representatives Chris Miller (R-Oakland) and Adam Niemerg (R-Teutopolis)
• Representatives Joe Sosnowksi (R-Rockford) and Steve Reick (R-Woodstock)
• Representatives Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) and Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville)
• Representatives Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) and Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett)
• Representatives C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) and Randy Frese (R-Quincy)
• Representatives Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) and Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich)
Democrats drew Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) into the same district with his colleague Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), but Caulkins said he plans to re-establish residency in a district next door to attempt to outmaneuver the gerrymander.
The new maps also spared some Republicans who were bracing for primary battles under the maps that were passed in May. Representatives Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) and Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) are no longer paired together in the same district, as well as Representatives Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) and Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport), who will each enjoy the benefit of incumbency in safe districts in the upcoming election.
Calabrese projected the Democrats could pick up six or seven House seats under the gerrymandered maps, but could potentially lose one or two seats in the Senate.
“They’re probably gonna have 80 members [in the House],” he said. “I also have the Democrats actually losing seats in the Senate, because what they did is they really catered to their members. And so there’s like no swing districts in the Senate. The seats are either really Republican or really Democratic.”
I struck out the Sosnowksi vs. Reick primary because this morning’s new House map puts them in separate districts. Stay tuned for more changes.
Also, subscribers know more, including about Chesney’s likely GOP opponent.
* Tribune…
U.S. District Judge Robert Dow warned Democrats that they should address concerns about undercounted minority populations when approving new maps during Tuesday’s special session.
That’s just what Democrats said they attempted to do with the new proposed boundaries introduced Monday, including an effort to put more of the Orthodox Jewish community into a single House and Senate district. The new maps also make a greater effort to keep more communities within single districts, Democrats said. […]
But Shlomo Soroka of Agudath Israel of Illinois said the newest map actually further divides the Orthodox Jewish community on the Northwest Side and in the northwest suburbs.
“I actually refuse to believe this was done intentionally, but if it was a mistake, it’s not too late to fix,” Soroka said during a hearing on redistricting late Monday.
My consultant Frank Calabrese says there were no changes to that district.
…Adding… From Frank…
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[Bumped up to Tuesday for visibility]
* The Senate held a hearing today on the new climate/energy bill. But this thing as written isn’t going anywhere even if the Senate passes it tomorrow. From Gov. Pritzker’s office…
The Governor’s position on a comprehensive energy bill has not changed since discussions at the end of session in May and again in June: any energy package needs to lead with ethics and transparency, needs time to be vetted, and must end carbon emissions by a date certain. HB3666, a bill that was not agreed to by environmentalists nor negotiated with all stakeholders, falls short of that standard, and if it reaches the Governor’s desk, he will veto it. The Governor remains committing to finalizing a bill that put consumers and the climate first, moves us to a zero emission future, and leads with ethics and transparency.
Scientists around the world have said we are at a “code red for humanity” and surely they would agree that we cannot wait to 2040 to cut the emissions of Prairie State Energy Campus - the nation’s seventh largest polluter - in half. And a thousand page energy bill affecting both ratepayers and utility interests that have been the subject of a deferred prosecution agreement should not be released on a Monday and voted on the next day.
BACKGROUND
• The Senate draft was scheduled to be filed at 8:30AM, very shortly after a copy was sent to the administration and stakeholders for the first time.
• Our review of the 900 page plus bill is still ongoing at this hour.
• This bill does not reflect previous agreements, in fact, this draft is worse for the planet and better for industries of polluters.
o The Senate bill does not phase out the dirtier gas plants nearly quickly enough. Even natural gas companies believe the orderly process that would have been created by the Illinois EPA in the Governor’s draft was more workable and responsible.
* House Speaker Chris Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll…
The Speaker is still reviewing the language that was filed this morning, but he has always been clear that before an energy proposal is called in the House there must be a consensus among the Democratic caucus and stakeholders, as well as include strong, meaningful ethics provisions. Leaders Evans, Gabel, and Hoffman have been tenacious advocates at the table throughout these negotiations and Speaker Welch will rely on their advice and guidance as conversations continue.
* And one of those stakeholders is the Sierra Club…
Today, an amendment to HB3666 was introduced in the General Assembly, which fails to act on the urgency of the climate crisis and gives a free pass to the Prairie State coal plant, the largest polluter in Illinois. Despite widespread approval for an energy bill that sets firm deadlines to equitably decarbonize our electric grid and grow Illinois’ clean energy economy, legislators continue to cater to fossil fuel interests. The amendment to HB3666 currently allows Prairie State to continue burning coal without any pollution reductions before 2045, leaves frontline communities vulnerable to short-term pollution increases, and allows fossil fuel companies to appeal to the Illinois Commerce Commission for pollution bailouts. Sierra Club joined other environmental advocates in opposing any bill that jeopardizes people and a livable climate.
Despite Governor Pritzker, legislators, and the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition staring down Exelon, ComEd, and Ameren to demand climate leadership for our state, fossil fuel corporations and special interests on behalf of Prairie State continue to hold Springfield hostage.
In response, Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin released the following statement:
“We remain confident that an agreement on a comprehensive energy package is absolutely possible, but as currently drafted, Sierra Club cannot support this bill. This summer alone, we have witnessed the hottest July ever documented, extreme weather, and flooding across Illinois. A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sounding the alarm of an even graver climate crisis than we thought. This bill must match the urgency of the moment. While it includes many of our priorities to grow an equitable, clean energy economy across Illinois, it does not currently have a decarbonization plan that holds the state’s biggest climate polluters accountable or protects our frontline communities. Coal plants like the Dallman Power Plant and the Prairie State Coal Plant continue to pollute Illinois communities at alarming rates, with the Prairie State Coal Plant killing 76 Illinoisans annually and costing $2 billion a year in damage to our health and environment.
“The fossil fuel industry has time and again left Illinois workers in a lurch and left communities with toxic legacies and broken promises. Other states are tapping the potential of a booming clean energy economy and without action, Illinois will not only fail to meet the challenges of the climate crises, but will deny the opportunity of clean energy prosperity to generations of Illinoisans. We remain committed to working with legislators and stakeholders to come to an agreement that prioritizes equity, clean energy jobs, and decarbonizes Illinois’ electric grid.”
* IRMA, however, has moved to neutral…
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) released the following statement regarding the proposed energy omnibus legislation:
“From safely storing food and medicine to ensuring shoppers have access to needed goods around the clock, retailers and the consumers they serve need reliable and affordable energy. As a result, IRMA has been an active and engaged stakeholder on energy legislation dating back to our support of, and leadership on, the landmark deregulation of the Illinois energy market in 1997. IRMA was the only statewide business group to support deregulation, which has saved businesses and homeowners billions of dollars and created one of the most reliable grids in the nation. As such, we have expressed concerns about various energy proposals put forth over the last two years. Most notably the added cost and potential reliability issues included in earlier proposals,” said Rob Karr, president & CEO, IRMA.
“However, thanks to the strong leadership demonstrated by Senate President Don Harmon and Senate Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham, IRMA is no longer opposing this legislation following good faith negotiations that took place throughout the summer and leading into this week. While no bill of this complexity is ever perfect, much has been done to temper the costs on retailers and consumers. That includes reducing the overall size of the proposal, instituting caps on costs and attempting to safeguard reliability. We are also pleased the current proposal is taking additional steps to reach zero carbon emissions, as retail companies big and small are doing that proactively. Overall, this updated measure meets our goal of trying to ensure reliable and affordable electricity for retailers in Illinois while addressing climate change.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** IEC…
Following is a statement from Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, on the latest climate and energy bill released today:
“We stand on the precipice of passing comprehensive climate and equitable jobs legislation in Illinois. This moment comes after a years-long campaign, and our even longer strategic effort to build the power of the environmental movement in Illinois. We have grown a strong voting bloc of environmental champions, who stand shoulder to shoulder with Governor Pritzker and our community in demanding a bill that truly addresses climate change and that includes meaningful equity provisions.
“But this legislation isn’t there yet. Anything short of what Illinoisans deserve or what science demands would be too costly a mistake to make in the climate crisis, particularly for BIPOC communities most impacted. Illinois must plan a clear and certain timeline for ending fossil fuels–and it must do so in this bill.
“The coming days will determine whether legislators are strong enough to side with their constituents, or polluting fossil fuel industries who have called the shots in Springfield for too long. Our clean energy future and the future of generations to come depends on the decisions legislators make over the next few hours. Our movement won’t stop pushing until the General Assembly has passed equitable, comprehensive climate legislation worthy of the people of Illinois.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Crain’s…
Senate President Don Harmon has tried to marry labor’s interests with the greens. He was sanguine Monday evening.
“The Senate president remains optimistic that we’ll find the winning balance of reliable, renewable and affordable energy policies for the people of Illinois,” a spokesman said.
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