“So, are we willing to reduce consumption (heat and cool our houses less, reduce the capacity of our manufacturing plants, and trim back life-saving energy use in our hospitals) and pay more for less?” Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) asks. | Photo courtesy Paul Jacobs
“So, are we willing to reduce consumption (heat and cool our houses less, reduce the capacity of our manufacturing plants, and trim back life-saving energy use in our hospitals) and pay more for less?” Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) asks. | Photo courtesy Paul Jacobs
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed wide-ranging legislation overhauling Illinois’ energy sector on Wednesday, calling the bill a “giant leap forward” for the state as it works to address the effects of climate change and establish “aggressive” clean energy standards.
But Republican state Rep. Paul Jacobs is less enthusiastic.
“Regulation of a desired service is often just a way to steer revenue to the favored,” Jacobs told the North Egypt News. “We need to be extremely careful in utilizing taxpayer funds to promote certain private sector elements. Without care and caution, the fear exists that we could create catastrophe by not having power when we really need it.”
The legislation provides almost $700 million over five years to Exelon nuclear plants and requires municipal coal firing plants, like Prairie State and Springfield’s City Water, Light and Power, to cut their emissions by 45%, the Chicago Sun Times reported. The governor is touting the legislation as a “giant leap forward,” one that puts the state on a course to 100% clean energy in less than three decades.
Jacobs has reservations.
“At this time, with current technology, it is presumed that replacing all carbon-based fuel generating sources with solar generation can simply not be accomplished,” he added. “So, are we willing to reduce consumption (heat and cool our houses less, reduce the capacity of our manufacturing plants, and trim back life-saving energy use in our hospitals) and pay more for less?”
A spokesperson for Exelon Generation said the company’s Byron and Dresden plants will now be refueled “as a result of the action taken by the Illinois Legislature to enact a comprehensive energy bill.”
In the end, Jacobs said he sees just one way forward.
“There needs to be additional research on this ‘global warming’ effect, but in the meantime, techniques are being developed which greatly increase the efficiency of fuel burn and reduce emitted carbon dioxide,” he added. “The Prairie State energy plant, which was a target of recent Illinois legislation, is an example of ‘cleaner’ burn processes.”
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