Massive Energy Bill Becomes Law, Investing Billions Between Renewable, Nuclear Sectors
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker was joined by environmental and social justice activists, union representatives, and lawmakers from both parties Wednesday as he signed into law a sweeping energy regulation overhaul that aims to phase out carbon emissions from the energy sector by 2045 while diversifying the renewable energy workforce. His signature marked a celebratory […]
Energy Bill Heads To Pritzker, Who Says He Will Sign It
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate put the final legislative stamp on an energy regulation overhaul bill Monday, sending it to Gov. JB Pritzker, who says he will sign it. It’s the culmination of years of negotiation, and it marks a policy win on one of Pritzker’s biggest outstanding first-term campaign promises as the 2022 campaign […]
Still No State Energy Deal As Deadlines Near
Legislation to get Illinois on track to 100 percent clean energy in the next few decades has been on hold this entire summer. But overnight in Springfield, the Illinois Senate broke a months-long stalemate on negotiations as high stakes deadlines get closer. Senate President Don Harmon pushed for his chamber to vote on legislation he […]
Energy Bill Could See A Vote As State Lawmakers Return For Redistricting Session
SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse on Tuesday for what is scheduled as a one-day special session to reconsider the legislative redistricting plan they passed during the spring session. But the General Assembly might also vote on an energy regulatory overhaul bill that has stalled on numerous occasions, including at the end of […]
Advocates Continue To Push For Equitable Energy Bill
The language in a comprehensive energy bill aimed at moving Illinois to a carbon-free future has undergone a multitude of revisions, yet the foundation of equity within the bill has remained mostly untouched throughout the process. Nearly 50 legislators identifying themselves as the “green caucus” expressed their motives in a letter to the governor – […]
Senate Adjourns With No Energy Deal, But Harmon ‘Confident’ One Is Still Near
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate adjourned Tuesday without calling a comprehensive energy regulatory reform package for a vote. After adjournment, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, made a statement similar to one he made June 1 after the Senate failed to call an energy bill for a vote ahead of the regular session adjournment. “There […]
‘I Wanted More,’ Pritzker Says Of Ethics Bill
SPRINGFIELD — Governor JB Pritzker wants to make it clear that he’s not a wholesale believer in the ethics reform package Democratic lawmakers pushed through the legislature this week. The Democrat, who has less than a year and a half left in his first term as governor, takes umbrage with the suggestion he claimed any […]
Dems’ $42B Budget Plan Held Back From Pritzker As Energy Deal Stalls — Again
SPRINGFIELD – While many Illinoisans spent Memorial Day off from work or maybe at a barbecue, Democrats in the General Assembly introduced, debated, altered and voted to pass a $42 billion dollar spending plan in just 24 hours early Monday into early Tuesday morning. The new state budget, which is slated to take effect July 1, […]
New Report Shows Illinois Job, Economic Growth In Electric Transportation Sector
SPRINGFIELD – A national clean energy trade organization has released a report showing growth in electric transportation-related jobs in Illinois could position the state to lead the domestic supply chain. Advanced Energy Economy, an industry association which promotes advanced energy technologies and services, released its “Electrifying Illinois” report which shows the state is on pace to reach […]
Nuclear Power Proponents Speak Out To Save Two Illinois Plants
CHAMPAIGN — Proponents of nuclear power in Illinois are rallying together in hopes of preventing the decommissioning of two nuclear power plants — the Byron and Dresden Generating Stations. Exelon announced late last year that it plans to retire the two plants in the fall due to financial concerns. Both stations are licensed to operate […]
By 2050, Illinois Would Use Only Renewable Energy Under Bill
SPRINGFIELD — Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly are reviving a plan to make Illinois reliant only on renewable power sources by 2050 with policies and regulations to encourage a switch to generating energy from such sustainable sources as wind and solar. The Clean Energy Jobs Act has a new boost with the election of […]
Clean Energy Advocates Allege Ameren Ended Solar Credit Program Too Early
Clean energy advocates are crying foul after Ameren Illinois ended its solar credit program for new solar customers earlier this month, even after state…
Pandemic Causing Slowdown For Illinois’ Solar Energy Industry
Tony Martin and his wife moved back to their hometown of Teutopolis, Illinois, about a year ago to start a small solar company just as the industry was taking off in the state. “My wife and I had always envisioned moving back to Illinois,” Martin says. “Now that solar came to Illinois, I felt like, […]