Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

“Clean jobs” group backs Exelon bill

Posted in:

Illinois

* Press release…

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, many of whose members had announced their opposition to the original version of the legislation, voted Monday night to support the amended version of the Future Energy Job Bill and urged its passage during the Illinois General Assembly’s current veto session.

The coalition released the following statement:

“We as a coalition are firmly committed to acting on the urgent need to create thousands of clean jobs and spur needed investment in the state, cut energy bills for consumers and respond to the growing threats of climate change. We are especially pleased to have found common ground with ComEd and Exelon to fund at least $750 million in investments in low-income communities, finally fix the state’s broken Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to spur private capital investments in wind and solar projects, and boldly expand energy efficiency standards, a key reason Illinois has the lowest electric rates in the Midwest.

“As with any compromise bill, our coalition is not pleased with every detail. But we are united in the belief that Illinois urgently needs to modernize our energy policy so we stop losing clean energy jobs and other benefits to more innovative states. We believe this bill can be a strong step toward our goals of creating thousands more clean jobs, cutting electric bills and cleaning the air we all breathe. We urge the General Assembly and Gov. Rauner to pass and support the Future Energy Jobs Bill during the veto session.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 28, 16 @ 11:54 pm

Comments

Much more like the “Clean Jobs Bill” than “Exelon Bill” at this point.

Comment by OkComputer Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:20 am
Illinois has low rates because of deregulation - not energy efficiency mandates. This bill further reregulates the market and picks winners. We will all pay more.

Comment by 4 percent Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:22 am
“4 percent”’s comment has been brought to you by the New Jersey coal and gas industry

Comment by OkComputer Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:21 am
Good move. The new proposal is vastly improved over Exelon’s first bill. These groups have turned that original bill into a solid proposal that’s actually a net gain for IL consumers. Big step forward.

Comment by MovingForward Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 5:46 am
There is still a lot of opposition, especially from the manufacturers…
From Crain’s

“Importantly, the Illinois Manufacturers Association, normally allies of Exelon when it wants something from Springfield, opposes this effort. Even after Exelon offered over the weekend to exempt the state’s largest industrial facilities from the substantially higher rates funding the new energy efficiency programs, the manufacturers said they wouldn’t support the bill, according to people familiar with the discussions.

….

But the manufacturers’ opposition could be key, as Rauner has said it’s important to him to shield the state’s industrial sector from substantial electricity rate hikes.”

http://tinyurl.com/zs7aozu

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:09 am
This bill has gone from a Christmas tree to something that’s a lot closer to a solid bill. It’s almost soup.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:13 am
More info. Not soup yet.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161128/business/161128995/

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:33 am
Anon221, don’t believe everything you read.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:38 am
Rich- From Crain’s or the DH?

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:40 am
Don’t believe everything you read from the coal and gas industry studies (BEST Coalition) that complain about rate hikes when these were the same folks who want the state to enter into 30-year contracts to build new coal and gas power plants at 4 times the price for electricity.

We’re we not generating 41% more of our power than we needed three years ago when the BEST folks were pitching coal and gas subsidies for Tenaska?

It’s Trump-like misinformation. And they have somehow roused the AG, PIRG, and AARP into their game.

Comment by Ggeo Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 9:17 am