Sen. Dale Fowler | Facebook
Sen. Dale Fowler | Facebook
State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) laments what he thinks the newly passed clean energy bill will mean for Illinois.
“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.”
In signing Senate Bill 2408 into law, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois is now the only Midwestern state in the country requiring 100% carbon-free energy by the year 2045.
Fowler seems to think that 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 includes language that earmarks $700 million for Exelon and its plan to keep nuclear plants in Byron and Morris operating. The governor said the legislation “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 takes exception.
“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.”
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