Where Does Energy Bill Go From Here?
Exelon has continually threatened to close its nuclear generating plant in Byron if state lawmakers don’t approve a bailout.
The legislature came and went from Springfield this week without reaching a deal on a long-discussed energy bill.
Unions, backed by Senate President Don Harmon are at odds with green energy supporting progressives, backed by Governor JB Pritzker on what to do with downstate coal plants. Progressives want to close the coal plants, like the Prairie State Energy Campus in Marissa in southern Illinois, by 2035. Unions, of course, don’t want to lose the jobs.
That has sort of left House Democrats and Speaker Chris Welch looking like the Swiss President in between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin yesterday.
Welch, for his part, kept his powder dry Wednesday on the Pritzker/Harmon feud, and deferred many of the details to his members that have been negotiating the deal.
Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) said she would potentially support the House taking the lead on the energy bill, but also said everyone needs to take a breath before coming back to the table.
“I think that’s a possibility. The House is ready to move. I think that we’ve come a long way on the energy bill. We have agreement on, probably, 80-90% of it, and I think there’s a path to success here,” Gabel said. “I think there’s a way to solve some of these problems. I think we might wanna take a little breather for a little while and calm down and let everybody think about it for a little bit and then get back to it.”
The Illinoize learned Wednesday some lawmakers, unions, and the Sierra Club were continuing discussions.
Gabel played down threats from Exelon to close nuclear plants because no agreement has been reached.
“I’m not feeling a lot of pressure from them and some of their allies right now in getting this done right away,” said Gabel.
But Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris), who represents two of the nuclear plants lined up for potential closure says Exelon is expected to file paperwork with the federal government to begin the process of closing the Byron nuclear station as early as today.
“They certainly don’t have all summer to get this figured out,” Rezin said.
Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), who chairs the House Energy Committee, says Exelon is one of multiple components of the legislation.
“Exelon is an important piece of the conversation. It has to be,” Williams said. But, the reality is, we all agree that climate needs to be addressed, we all agree that equitable jobs in the most underserved communities must be handled in this bill, and, also that utility accountability measures are a part of the final package. How we get there is more challenging. It’s a very comprehensive and complex issue.”
Welch wouldn’t say if the House would take up the legislation if it continues to stall in the Senate.
