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* Gov. Rauner’s statement issued last night after the passage of the Exelon bill…
“For months our administration has been very clear that any energy legislation should follow the guiding principles of protecting jobs, ratepayers and taxpayers. After dozens of hours of good faith negotiations, we have reached an agreement that aligns with those principles. This legislation will save thousands of jobs. It protects ratepayers, through guaranteed caps, from large rate increases in years to come. It also ensures taxpayers are not on the hook to keep the power plants open and online. We thank the rank-and-file legislators and stakeholders for their perseverance and commitment to seeing this through. This process shows that when all parties are willing to negotiate in good faith, we can find agreement and move our state forward.”
The Illinois Manufacturers Association has been one of the harshest critics of the Exelon bill, testifying against it this week and taking an official stance in opposition. The IMA’s staff has been inundated with calls from members outraged at the prospect of their electric bills increasing, which they say would make the state’s business climate even worse.
* So, this ought to be interesting…
Daily Public Schedule: Friday, December 2, 2016
What: Governor Rauner Discusses Reforms to Create Jobs, Lower Property Taxes, Improve Schools and Enact Good Government Initiatives like Term Limits at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Where: J.W. Marriott (Grand Ballroom)
151 W. Adams St., Chicago
Date: Friday, December 2, 2016
Time: 11:45 a.m.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From a pal at the event…
Rauner got a pretty decent round of applause when he was introduced. Greg [Baise] joked about not always agreeing. Gov said he’s personally opposed to “special deals” but “we have to play the cards we are dealt”. “I’ve never seen an issue where the experts were more divided” “I’m proud of the outcome, even though I don’t love it.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Raw audio…
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:03 am
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The IMA may not be happy with the Exelon deal but is it really the Lion’s Den for Rauner? Has Rauner ever really gone into a Lion’s Den since he took office? Seems to me he’s done everything he could to avoid answering uncomfortable or inconvenient questions.
Comment by slow down Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:07 am
It certainly is the Lion’s den. But after this week, it appears the Governor is the Lion.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:07 am
I’d put money on folks not realizing this was on the schedule when they supported the bill.
Comment by Anon Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:08 am
First PR fumble by Rauner. Bad one, in fact.
That rate hike will be Rauner’s to own as well as those who voted for it.
Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:08 am
The Gov can tell his audience that he got the utilities to agree to allow IMA members to self direct, and to have a carve out from the efficiency goals. The IMA balked at that offer, and they then had the carve out offer retracted.
Comment by Wow Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:14 am
The Exelon bills demonstrates that the two sides can agree when there are not nonnegotional demands unrelated to the substance of the bill.
Comment by anon Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:14 am
This governor, a man whom I have supported, has lost me with his signature on this bailout bill. Plenty of time to work on helping major corporations jack up my costs as a small business owner but no time to get an actual budget? I’m a small business that uses electricity in the manufacturing process. I’ve been lockstep with what the Governor has been trying to do but this will do more damage to me than any of his reforms would have helped.
Governor, you failed. FAILED.
Comment by Big Muddy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:16 am
Suit and tie or flannel and “aw shucks”??? He has a lot of explaining to do to this group. And, just when does he plan to sign SB2814 with all those Amendments??? He sure was able to whip out the veto pen quickly yesterday, but is he intending to use the “grace period” that the July 2017 enactment date in the bill gives him and go the whole 60 days? Any possible AV action planned because there might still be some technical issues? Interesting times, indeed.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:17 am
===the Governor is the Lion.===
Yes, I’d say he’s the Cowardly Lion if the “rumblings under the Dome” report is true.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:22 am
The state forces electricity users to pay an extra fee to subsidize Exelon and the governor claims this is not a tax. What is Rauner turning into?
Comment by Muscular Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:24 am
A home owner is looking at a couple of bucks, if that, increase. Folks, you are saving 2000 jobs that pay almost 6 figures. Not to mention the community involvement this company associates itself with.
Comment by Electric Bill Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:24 am
I was a bit surprised Rauner, and Diana, had that Facebook “Love us!” Facebook Live thingy canceled.
That was a chance to talk to people, but…
… the Governor was busy making sure the Excelon Bill passed and then signed.
Maybe cowardly lion is more apropos(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:26 am
The members ought thank him for making this bail a lot better for them and for continuing to be their strongest voice in Springfield.
Comment by anon Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:26 am
Expect the angry lions to turn into docile lambs once Rauner feeds them some anti-union red meat buzz words.
Comment by Johnnie F. Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:27 am
25 cents a month to keep these plants open? What’s there to think about?
Comment by Electric Bill Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:30 am
This will be the friendliest Lion’s Den in America.
Rauner has shot a lot of tranquilizer darts into these beasts.
Comment by Oh please! Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:36 am
Rauner perfidy tastes bitter doesn’t it Deft?
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:40 am
No tie for main street.
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:41 am
I’ll buy Bruce a membership to the Springfield Lion’s Club.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:41 am
I think we all know that the “turnaround” agenda solves all problems, so Rauner is just fine. Any rate hike will be offset by savings from the magical turnaround agenda. For example, due to worker’s comp reform when your more expensive electricity electrocutes an employee, don’t worry about your profit margin because your lower work comp insurance rates will offset the electric rates.
Comment by Jon Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:45 am
Maybe this experience will help IMA better understand that Bruce Rauner only cares about himself.
Workers comp reform only matters to him in the sense that reform is an issue for which its supporters will give his campaign money and he knows workers comp plaintiff’s attorneys give Democrats money. The longer the issue goes unresolved, the longer workers comp reformers keep giving him money and the businesses seeking workers comp reform have more money than the workers comp plaintiff’s attorneys. So it will never be reformed with him as governor.
He doesn’t actually care about this state’s manufacturers any more than he cares about its homeless shelters. He doesn’t care about the business climate any more than its social safety net.
This is a man who took home three times as much income in the year after he became governor. Does anyone think the state’s real business climate suddenly improved three times better when he became governor? He’s totally disconnected from the concerns of actual employers in this state the same way he is disconnected from basically every other person who doesnt live for trying to make the real world more like an Ayn Rand fantasy camp.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:46 am
IMA: We still love you.
Rauner: I really don’t need you to.
IMA: That’s why we still love you.
Comment by Winnin' Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:53 am
Big muddy. You were for the governor but he has never been for you. He is a leveraged buyout artist. Not a business man like you. He make no product or provides a service like you. He bought mainstreet
He broke mainstreet
Now he just sold you out.
Labor gets what he just did to you
Make labor peace
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 9:58 am
Electric Bill ww can do the same for state workers then correct?
Comment by Foster brooks Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:00 am
Some of y’all are forgetting what state you live in. Saving jobs is a perfectly good component in a balanced bill. No one will leave on account of this bill. No one will scream about their new heavy burden. But people in those communities directly or indirectly affected by those 2 power plants will remember who voted to save their jobs and who didn’t.
It’s not a pretty bill. But it’s a decent bill.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:00 am
Electric Bill -
Rauner and his colleagues have caused far more than the loss of 2,000 jobs and lots of human service pain by their failure to enact a budget.
It is amazing to watch them get to work to save possibly 2,000 jobs when millions of dollars of industry lobbyists are involved.
Remember, it’s the lobbyists and Exelon who wrote the bill.
Not Rauner.
Rauner is thus far a feckless bystander when it comes to his job of proposing a balanced budget.
Comment by Winnin' Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:08 am
- thank you Foster
I posted a similar thought, and it shows up on my phone, but not on my desktop when I come here. No idea why that happens, unless it is in mod land. Certainly didn’t mean to break Richs’ rules.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:09 am
–No one will leave on account of this bill. No one will scream about their new heavy burden.–
LOL.
Billions in tax increases — bad.
Billions in rate increases — good.
Billions in tax increases to fund core state responsibilities — bad.
Billions in rate increases to pad the profits of a company that made $2.2 billion last year — good.
The conservative GOP lesson of the day.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:19 am
===Saving jobs is a perfectly good component in a balanced bill. No one will leave on account of this bill. No one will scream about their new heavy burden. But people in those communities directly or indirectly affected by those 2 power plants will remember who voted to save their jobs and who didn’t.===
Another collectivist heard from. Sheesh A guy, why don’t you type the same thing and insert “state facilities” instead of nuclear plants and “taxes” instead of rate hikes.
Oh, but when it’s Governor Rauner pushing it, you disconnect whatever part of your brain does the independent thinking and outsource your mouth to the service of Governor Rauner.
Pathetic.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:20 am
A Guy - you mean a state where large corporate extortion and welfare is normative?
Can’t wait for EDGE to expire.
Mainstreet no EDGE for you!
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:23 am
Rauner hasn’t signed this bill yet. I’m not saying he won’t, but he could go AV on it still. If he was so onboard and willing, why not sign it last night??? What’s the delay??? He was all haughty about the CPS Veto, but a quiet press release and then nothing on this bill? When does the “ceremony” take place, and will Chris Cane get a signing pen??? Is he reluctant to take his “ownership” with his signature in case things don’t actually work out the way the bill promises?
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:30 am
Correction- Chris Crane (CEO of Exelon)
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:32 am
If you don’t like this Exelon deal you need to strike back by making sure EDGE tax incentives for Wall Street companies expire on DEcember 31. We need every cent in the coffers of IDOR to survive. 215,000,000 went to Wall Street instead of our state. Mainstreet got none of that.
Call you legislators and tell them not to renew EDGE Wallstreet welfare.
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:35 am
This is just old school Illinois corruption in plain sight.
It’s also a heckuva lot closer to communism than it is capitalism.
A highly profitable corporation sends an army of lobbyists under the Dome and says “gimme more money.” The leverage is jobs, contracts and campaign contributions. The ComEd CEO’s bonus is dependent on the money.
How is that not corruption?
Mind you, they want more money for operations that they claim are not economically sustainable. They want more money from citizens to prop up operations that can’t compete in the marketplace.
If that ain’t communism, it’s in the same area code.
And it’s the only thing the governor, Republicans and Democrats can get together on.
Yessir, it sure is a new day in Illinois. Everyone can see it.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:35 am
Am I the only one who finds it incredibly disgusting that the governor would veto a bill to help Chicago public schools calling it a “bailout” –even though it provides parity since Chicago taxpayers pay for both downstate and Chicago teachers– the same day he signs an actual bailout?! Because because protecting the jobs in these two Republican towns while raising our utility rates is definitely more important than protecting the thousands of teachers and school children in Chicago.
Way to go, Governor Rauner. Way to go!
Comment by Interesting Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:43 am
–Oh, but when it’s Governor Rauner pushing it, you disconnect whatever part of your brain does the independent thinking and outsource your mouth to the service of Governor Rauner.–
Strangely, that non-partisan, free-market-promoting watchdog, the Illinois Policy Institute, seems to have a hard time clearing their throat on this one.
You’d think that taxing citizens to subsidize unprofitable operations of a highly profitable company would be a beachball down Broadway for them. They should be knocking it out of the yard.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:43 am
===Strangely, that non-partisan, free-market-promoting watchdog, the Illinois Policy Institute, seems to have a hard time clearing their throat on this one===
Yeah, I noticed that too earlier today. Sent Tillman an e-mail about it an hour or so ago. Haven’t heard back yet.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:44 am
Great point about Illinois Policy Institute.
Who can you trust to give an honest assessment these days?
/snark
Comment by Winnin' Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:48 am
Saving jobs is always an admirable sentiment, in theory, but government does it especially bad … usually to the detriment of taxpayers.
There are always winners and losers in any endeavor so when the government tries to “balance” things, in this instance seeking to “stabilize the supply of power” along with saving jobs, what happens next is inevitable. Taxpayers/rate payers have to pay more.
Substitute “Exelon” for “Solyndra” or “GM” or even “Sears” or “CME.” The fact is, the government — be it Federal or State — is inserting itself into the equation (further) to achieve a desired positive outcome … all because the markets weren’t working well enough for the private company.
Illinois made a half-hearted decision years ago to move away from a heavily regulated energy playing field to a less regulated one … and for the most part, that worked well as rate payers slowly had more choices.
This bill, however, is an abandonment of that less regulation model and is a gift of more rate payers’ money to, supposedly, keep open two nuclear facilities and save jobs. We’ll see how this pans out but I think it’ll be safe to say that any negative fall-out (pun intended) will stick on Rauner for signing this legislation.
In the end, rate payers are being forced to subsidize a very profitable large energy corporation. For the left, it’s corporate welfare. For the right, it’s crony capitalism. And for most Illinoisans, it’s just more of the same.
Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:50 am
A Guy @10:00,
I employ 11 people. Small business that I can do from pretty much anywhere as long as I have distribution infrastructure and electricity. Illinois has (had?) moderately priced energy for my type of business. Now that competitive edge is gone. I am now looking at relocating outside of Illinois. Your statement that no one will leave is tone deaf and ignores all other components as to why people stay or leave. I cannot justify staying in Illinois anymore. I just can’t. Born in southern Illinois and work in far western collar. Love Illinois but I’m being driven out. Sad.
Comment by Big Muddy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:56 am
Not a fan of the Governor, but was pleased to see that his staff got engaged during negotiations on the bill. Sounds like the opportunity to create a self-directed energy efficiency program option for large energy consumers was not enough to get IMA on board. I like the bill because it could put the state on the path to doing something about reducing carbon emissions. At the end of the day, we could have a very diverse and resilient mix of electricity generation resources in Illinois, which I think would be good for our economy over time.
Comment by Going nuclear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 10:59 am
–Yeah, I noticed that too earlier today. Sent Tillman an e-mail about it an hour or so ago. Haven’t heard back yet.–
Curious. On the IPI website, they’re all up-to-date on the doings under the Dome this week, with their harrumph-harrumphs that are in total agreement with the governor — in their own independent, non-partisan, free-market, think-tankery sort of way.
All except this issue. Nada.
It’s like the old punchline — we’ve established what you are, now we’re just talking price.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:01 am
Talk makes me weary. Taxes bad. Rauner strong. Rauner good.Rauner cowboy. Madigan bad. Turn around agenda good. Unions bad. Mind burning cannot think straight…
Comment by Hulk Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:05 am
All those Social Services would have gotten a whole lot busier with those plants closing and the indirect businesses they affect too. Not to mention the monster hit the school districts would take with that contribution to their line item on the tax bill.
Is it a subsidy? Absolutely. Is it a jobs program? When wasn’t it? Is the price of power still at a all time low and our supply more reliable then ever? Uh, yeah.
Is it picking winners and losers? I guess it is. Maybe the big difference is that the pool of Winners is a little bit bigger this time. The Losers will identify themselves in time.
Or they won’t.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:10 am
Wordslinger at 10:19
Check out the roll on the vote. It wasn’t the conservatives that pushed this bill through…
Comment by stan Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:11 am
When people read and understand the final bill, they are going to see that exelon took more risk then expected, that the clean jobs coalition is the biggest winner, and that the governors office significantly improved the package. That’s the truth
Comment by One who knows Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:12 am
Well said Deft Wing! Well said! Brother do we agree!
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:14 am
===All those Social Services would have gotten a whole lot busier with those plants closing and the indirect businesses they affect too.===
That Rauner refuses to honor contracts with, but already know that… lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:15 am
Big muddy. You don’t have to answer and I promise not to attack your answer. Is your company profitable?
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:17 am
===Is it picking winners and losers? I guess it is.===
Milton Friedman, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan are rolling in their graves.
Bailouts for billionaires but not for poor brown school children. Own it, embrace it, it is exactly who you and Governor Rauner are.
Don’t listen to what the Governor says, watch what he does. This is the Rauner Rate Hike, a direct result of the Rauner Corporate Bailout.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:17 am
Did Cap Fax commenter “Bill” from the Blagojevich era just adopt “A Guy” as a moniker for the Rauner era?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:18 am
–Check out the roll on the vote. It wasn’t the conservatives that pushed this bill through…–
LOL, what are Gov. Rauner and GOP leadeship then?
The fact that the bill, amazingly, passed with just a few votes to spare is evidence of a structured roll call, not any “principles.”
But you’re missing my main point. This is old-timey, bipartisan Springfield “legal” corruption. That’s how it always has been with Exelon.
Weren’t we all promised a new day, with the new guy?
For crying out loud, the state is breaking signed contracts with vendors all over the state, to the tune of billions, but Exelon can roll the whole lot of them whenever they choose.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:18 am
Mr. Muddy, I sincerely believe that you have options and you’ve had enough with our state. If this bill is the tipping point for you, it is. I believe you. I also believe that if it wasn’t this, it would be something else; so precarious is our beloved state. What keeps me here is my children and grandchildren. Nothing else. I’ve long gotten used to the machinations of Chicago and Illinois’ odd brand of politics vs. policy.
A lot of people left Illinois with their businesses a long time ago. You have stayed and it is a credit to you for doing so. My business has 23 people. We’re not manufacturers, but we work with a lot of them. Property owners too. The commodity of power, be it for buildings or vehicles has been frustratingly unpredictable for quite some time. Both the price and the supply. Both are stable now. There’s been a premium to pay for that stability, but the cost is lower now than it’s ever been. The service is better and more reliable too.
One important exercise for everyone. Look at the original bill and the one that ultimately passed. It’s not beautiful, but it demonstrates more progress than I had ever hoped for.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:22 am
A guy- “All those Social Services would have gotten a whole lot busier with those plants closing and the indirect businesses they affect too. Not to mention the monster hit the school districts would take with that contribution to their line item on the tax bill.”
I’ve got news for you A guy, in the Clinton area we lost the Human Resource Center, one of our major social service providers this year BECAUSE of non-payments by the state, NOT the nuclear plant. And, BTW, Exelon has been fighting their assessment for YEARS against the county because they claim their plant just isn’t worth much anymore. And, while that tax fight continues, the amount being contested stays in escrow and may have to be returned to Exelon if the state review board rules in their favor. And now, after BUYING a New York state nuclear plant for pennies on the dollar, they will have that to wave around as, “lookee, that plant isn’t worth much either!”. Even the Clinton City manager finally admitted that this is only a 10 year “program” and that the county and city need to prepare for the plant’s closing. Something they should have been doing for decades anyway!
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:22 am
This was a structured roll call … only to the extent that term applies when the structuring is done by Lobbyists and interest groups.
Madigan absolutely rolled the Administration on this one.
Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:23 am
===Madigan absolutely rolled the Administration on this one. ===
LOL
I watched Madigan’s people demand that Rauner put 35-40 votes on the roll call. The HGOPs put 19 votes on it.
Also, too, the Democrats were forced to strip out all the prevailing wage requirements to even get those 19 yesterday.
Who got rolled?
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:25 am
Anon 221, with sincere respect,
How much did the Clinton plant pay in property taxes to your school districts last year? Not whatever amount in dispute is held in escrow, how much actual money was transferred from them to your school district(s)?
It’s not hypocrisy if you state from the outset that this bill has a job preservation component to it. Even a major component. It is a jobs bill within an Energy bill. Always has been.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:28 am
–The commodity of power, be it for buildings or vehicles has been frustratingly unpredictable for quite some time. Both the price and the supply.–
LOL, what?
The supply of power has been “unpredictable” for “buildings and vehicles” for how long?
Did you check the circuit breakers? Try filling up at the gas station?
You started early, even for a Friday.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:28 am
People should compare the bill to what new York did. The Illinois deal is way better policy and way better for consumers and the environment. All the leaders deserve credit. The governor does too. Significantly improved the bill
Comment by One who knows Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:28 am
As to the prevailing wage… how are they going to get around State Law??? Honest question.
https://www.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/CONMED/Pages/prevailing-wage-act.aspx
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:30 am
Madigan’s ask for 35-40 R votes wasn’t real, come on. Everyone knows that.
19 R’s on a bail out bill is high. Real high … especially given that only 60 votes were needed for passsage, not 71 (wait, I thought this had to be done in one month or facilities would close asap … opps).
Madigan didn’t vote and will hang this bail out and rate hike around Rauner’s neck.
Yes, Rauner got rolled.
Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:36 am
Rauner gets behind a compromise bill, insists unnecessarily high wages are removed, and it passes. Then he appears before one of his biggest supporters, who absolutely hate the bill. Sounds like leadership to me.
Would be nice of Madigan could do something similar. You know, do the right thing even if it’s opposed by one of your core constituencies.
Comment by phocion Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:45 am
Sling, if you invest in millions or even tens of thousands in a business and a location, you tend to take a longer view. Have you forgotten $4/gallon gas, and high electric rates, power shortages, brown outs, service outages, CE lamenting old equipment? I haven’t.
My clients have played roulette buying energy on the market. Most have benefited and the service and reliability have vastly improved. It’s a far cry from free-market (like those champs Friedman, Thatcher, Reagan and 47 Ward preach about..ha ha on the last one) but the market has certainly had a positive effect.
Energy bills tied to preserving nuke plant, coal plant, etc jobs….Is that really a huge mind blower for you? I don’t think so.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:50 am
A guy- “How much did the Clinton plant pay in property taxes to your school districts last year?”
If someone builds or buys a property in DeWitt County, they are going to have to pay taxes. IP built the plant, Exelon bought the plant. There have been tax disputes for years- http://tinyurl.com/hr4bgbh
That’s SOP for any company. And, the tax base is going to continue to erode for the Clinton Plant. The communities and entities that have gotten the golden eggs to date, will have to adapt if they want to exist in some shape or form.
Exelon, on the other hand, isn’t dependent on the communities or entities in this area, but it sure knows how to use them to leverage every possible cent, dime, and dollar they possibly can.
I’ve paid for this plant through from the time our electric coop helped finance it. I’m paying for the waste storage on site which will just grow as they dry cask the stuff onsite the longer the plant operates. And, now, I get to pay again with the passage of SB2814. Oh, and BTW, MY property taxes will go up every year as Exelon’s go down. Corporate welfare at it’s finest.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 11:54 am
–Sling, if you invest in millions or even tens of thousands in a business and a location, you tend to take a longer view.–
You mean like my house?
You’re babbling nonsense about the “unpredictability of the power supply” and gasoline prices in relationship to this giveaway.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:06 pm
Both sides own this one. No way Madigan can play dead. Everyone got rolled by Exelon. Big bonuses likely for the lobbyists. An ongoing disgrace that should be remembered.
Comment by walker Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:08 pm
Sling, you’d get it if you wanted to. You don’t. That’s ok. Does your House employ people? How many? Silly argument.
Anon, I get you and understand the sincerity of your argument. Nobody argued more passionately for the passage of this bill than your State Rep. Begged even.
I’m not arguing that it’s not Corporate welfare. It is. At it’s finest?? I’d argue it’s been a lot finer in the past.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:12 pm
–Sling, you’d get it if you wanted to. You don’t. That’s ok. Does your House employ people? How many? Silly argument.–
It’s quite a heavy long-term investment.
Now you’ve got me worried about this unpredictability of the power supply you speak of.
All this time, I just flip the switch, and the light comes on. The car is at “E”, I go to the gas station.
Please, explain to me, how this giveaway addresses the unpredictability of the power supply that I didn’t even know existed.
And gasoline prices.
I really want to understand.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:17 pm
===how this giveaway addresses the unpredictability of the power supply===
There are significant power supply issues in the hottest summer months. There was also a supply issue during the polar vortex. Coal piles froze solid and gas plants couldn’t function.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:28 pm
…Not saying I support the bill. I didn’t. But there are some reasons for this. Plus the non-nuclear green energy component is pretty good.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:28 pm
There will be a lawsuit filed in like 2 minutes. It will argue that this bill will lead to billions of dollars of price suppression. What will folks say then?
Comment by One who knows Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:31 pm
U.S. Energy Information Administration:
–Illinois generates considerably more electricity than it consumes, and the state supplies its surplus electricity to interstate grids. Illinois is served by two electrical grids, one of which spans the northern portion of the state, including the major urban areas in and around Chicago, and interconnects with the Mid-Atlantic states. The rest of Illinois is connected to a grid that serves much of the Midcontinent region.==
Illinois ratepayers are propping up Exelon’s nukes so they can sell the electricity on the national grids.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Pardon, here’s the link.
https://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=IL
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:45 pm
== What will folks say then?==
What they always say. You new here?
To expound a bit on what Rich noted, that polar vortex taxed (no pun) our entire capacity here. It’s rare for it to get that cold, but so are most severe weather events. They’re devastating to recover from. Water pipes, everything, is at risk during extreme temps. Hot temps too. It wasn’t long ago that tractor trailers were used as temporary morgues with people dying of heat exposure. We learned.
Having diverse sources of energy is a strength. I repeat, there’s still too much give away here. The jobs portion is still out of whack with the focus of an energy bill. But it’s moving in the right direction and it could have been a lot worse. All you need to do is compare what arrived on the floor with what passed.
The planet isn’t in reverse spin.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:47 pm
This bill will lower bills in Illinois. And not just because of efficiency. Exelon wins at the expense of other generators. The costs of closure were higher then the costs of the zec.
Comment by One who knows Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 12:53 pm
Baise should have given Rauner the bidness. Use the slings and arrows the Gov said he would gladly take.
He instead glad-handed it and smiled for photos, deplorable. The IMA should call for a vote of no confidence.
Comment by Dee Lay Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 1:22 pm
–But it’s moving in the right direction and it could have been a lot worse. All you need to do is compare what arrived on the floor with what passed.–
Seriously? You ask for the moon and the stars and then “settle” for just the stars? That old gag?
Exelon was going to pony up the minimum $800 million they’re short on the decommissioning fund, to spend years shutting down plants that they’re selling the electricity from across the country?
Are you new here?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 1:37 pm
A guy- “Nobody argued more passionately for the passage of this bill than your State Rep. Begged even.”
Yep, and I never vote for him. This is one of the reasons.
and, I do understand the other side of the argument on the renewables, but it never should have had to be tied to an Exelon subsidy. I posted that on the other thread.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 1:54 pm
Sling, you’ve got it all figured out. I just can’t help you.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 2:04 pm
–I just can’t help you.–
First sensible point you’ve made.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 2:09 pm
Thanks Sling. I’ll bring you an apple on Monday. With any luck, you’ll eat it.
Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 2:51 pm
Listening to Rauner’s speech at IMA. Rote, rote, rote… tiresome.
https://www.illinois.gov/cms/agency/media/radio/SitePages/Radio.aspx
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 3:03 pm
==No one will scream about their new heavy burden.==
Not sure if this is what you meant, but mailers talking about bailing out Exelon while vetoing school funding would absolutely move votes.
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:16 pm
This doesn’t really make sense. Rauner would never see himself as Daniel. He only sees himself as a god.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Dec 2, 16 @ 4:35 pm
Here’s some real whiz-bang economic developin’ and job savin’ by the numbers, courtesy of the governor and the General Assembly.
–Exelon said 1,500 workers would lose their jobs if the two plants closed.
–Under the deal, Exelon will get, at least, another $235 million a year, thanks to a bipartisan, government-approved new tax on Exelon customers — who will get nothing that they weren’t paying for already.
A $235 million bump divided by 1,500 workers equals…….
….$156,666 a job.
Nearly $157K a job — I bet that’s almost as much as the average annual salaries of the thousands who got canned at the likes of Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services due to the state reneging on its contracts.
You know what’s really hilarious? Exelon wasn’t going to close those plants — they threaten that every few years when they want a bump, like clockwork, like the return of the locusts.
It would have cost them at least $800 million and then they wouldn’t be able to sell the excess capacity out of state.
For Exelon, Springfield is like the airport was for Jimmy, Henry and Tommy — when they want money, they rob the Dome (actually, their customers, via the Dome).
And governors and General Assemblies give it up with hardly a whimper.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 5, 16 @ 8:39 am