Illinois (KHQA) — Environmental and clean energy advocates are praising the passing of a 1,000-page energy omnibus bill in the Illinois congress on Oct. 30.
The bill has taken several names as its transformed over the years, from the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act to the Municipal and Cooperative Electric Utility Transparent Planning Act.
Now, according to supporters, this bill is bringing to the state a long series of energy reform plans like:
- – Virtual power plants and clean energy battery storage
- – Volunteer natural gas programs and energy efficiency targets for energy suppliers
- – More support for clean energy projects to get developed before time runs out on federal tax credits
- – Lifting restrictions on nuclear power plants construction
- – Creating a group within the Illinois Power Agency tasked with exploring energy efficiency
“It is such an important win for climate progress in Illinois. We’re tackling climate emissions, we’re tackling air emissions, we’re tackling water pollution. and, most of all, best of all, we’re tackling affordability and, jobs in the energy sector. So we are really excited about the passage of this bill and what it means for Illinoisans,” said Jen Walling, CEO of Illinois Environmental Council.
But opponents of this bill, like senator Jil Tracy, said it gives the IPA too much power, closes reliable fossil fuel plants, and supports unreliable clean energy—leading to higher utility bills for residents.
Walling believes the opposite. She said supporting clean energy with this bill will actually lower utility bills and save Illinoisans millions in the long run.
“What’s really great in that it’s going to be a billion dollars in investment by the state that’s going to save $13 billion for Illinois consumers because of the time that the storage will be available and on the grid. And that will hit at about 2030,” said Walling.
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