A utility worker performs maintenance on transmission lines. Illinois State Sen. Jil Tracy recently introduced three bills to address a variety of energy concerns. | Антон Дмитриев/Unsplash
A utility worker performs maintenance on transmission lines. Illinois State Sen. Jil Tracy recently introduced three bills to address a variety of energy concerns. | Антон Дмитриев/Unsplash
Illinois State Sen. Jil Tracy recently announced a trio of energy bills that could provide residents much-needed relief from high energy costs.
Along with many other goods and services, energy costs are on the rise, putting a strain on families, according to a July 26 press release.
“As Illinois is a top energy producer and a top energy consuming state, we need protections in place for our energy production, grid capacity, and consumption systems,” Tracy said in a Facebook post. “We are proposing proactive measures that focus on preventing future utility price spikes and/or rolling blackouts throughout our state by securing Illinois’ energy-producing capabilities.”
The bills would repeal the forced 2045 closure date of coal and natural gas power plants, which was implemented by Gov. JB Pritzker, the release stated. They would also allow companies to build gas "peaker" plants and repurpose $10 million from fees assessed to funding renewable energy for retrofitting coal and natural gas plants.
“There needs to be a middle-ground when it comes to our transition to cleaner energy,” Tracy said in the release. “Instead of shutting down power plants, how about we work to retrofit them in a way to eliminate carbon emissions. We must also do more to make sure Illinois’ permitting process does not bog new projects down, to the detriment of our energy systems and their customers.”
On July 26 Tracy released a series of frequently asked questions regarding a June 1 electric rate hike for Ameren Electric customers, according to the senator’s website.
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