Senate Advances Energy Bill, Pritzker Indicates He's Not on Board
Senate President Don Harmon advanced a massive energy bill through the Senate early Wednesday morning, but as it heads to the House, there still isn’t agreement on how to take coal-fired power plants offline.
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After an entire day after an entire summer after an entire spring of complicated and unresolved negotiations on a gigantic energy bill, the Senate passed a piece of legislation early Wednesday morning.
The 1,000-plus page legislation includes more than $200 million in investment in green energy projects like wind and solar, investment in “social equity” programs, and nearly $700 million in incentives to keep nuclear plants in Byron and Dresden, near Morris, up and running.
It appears the Senate-passed version of the bill would allow coal plants like Prairie State Energy in Marissa to stay open past 2045 if it can become zero emission. But, carbon sequestration is still not a workable solution.
The Governor’s people and environmentalists haven’t moved on their position on coal plants and still want both zero emissions and a firm 2045 closure date. Speaking at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur Tuesday, Pritzker said the bill will require compromise.
“We’re awfully close. But, everybody needs to give a little bit in order for us to get the right kind of compromise,” Pritzker said. “I’m hopeful, but I don’t know what odds to put on it at this point.”
Pritzker, of course, hasn’t compromised on the most contentious part of the negotiation.
Harmon was asked early Wednesday morning why the Senate decided to move the bill instead of waiting for all sides to come together.
“I am worried that inaction is far worse than action even if we realize there is more work to be done,” Harmon said. “I’m worried about the folks who are wondering if they’re going to have a job tomorrow. I’m worried about the business investments here in the state of Illinois. And I’m worried about our climate.”
There is a serious timing issue for Exelon and the two nuclear plants. The company has already started the process of closing the Byron plant and can still pull that back. Exelon will need to make a decision to purchase a new round of fuel soon for the plant if it is to stay open.
It isn’t clear yet how quickly the House, Governor, and others involved in the bill could make a deal for the House to return to Springfield for a vote.
“This is an excellent bill we passed,” Harmon said. “If the Governor and the House are able to make it better, then Godspeed and we’ll be ready, willing, and able to take that up.”
The potential fate of the bill left many dour leaving Springfield without a deal on a final bill, Harmon offered some optimism in the wee hours of Wednesday.
“We’re gonna stick together and we’re gonna get this done,” Harmon said.