Southern Illinois News

State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) worries about what comes next after Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed the state’s new clean energy policy into law.

“This energy proposal was an opportunity to recognize the importance of our coal industry and work collaboratively to establish an energy package that would protect jobs, safeguard Illinois’ energy portfolio and ensure we have reliable energy for Illinoisans,” Fowler posted on Facebook. “Disappointingly, the opportunity was missed and it will have costly consequences for Illinoisans.”

While Pritzker insists signing Senate Bill 2408 puts Illinois in a class all of its own as the only Midwestern state in the country now requiring 100% carbon-free energy by the year 2045, Fowler argues that completely misses the point.

“This energy proposal overlooks the reliability that coal provides to Illinois’ energy portfolio, relying instead on massive subsidies for wind and solar while placing a target on our privately-owned coal plants,” he said. “The energy package also includes a dangerous eminent domain provision that threatens landowners and is a direct assault on our state’s agricultural sector.”

The bill also earmarks $700 million for Exelon to keep nuclear plants in Byron and Morris in operation. Pritzker is selling the measure as legislation that “doubles” the state's investments in renewable energy and "makes it clear to the world that Illinois is open for business with long-term stable financing to boot."

Again, Fowler has a different viewpoint.

“This isn’t real comprehensive energy policy,” he said. “This is an attack on our coal industry that will undoubtedly bring about the greatest energy rate hike in Illinois history, eliminate jobs and will hurt the future of our state.”