Quincy Reporter

Illinois families are facing steep increases in their utility bills this summer, with some residents reporting that costs have doubled or tripled. The recent spike has prompted criticism from State Senator Jil Tracy (R-Quincy), who attributes the higher costs to state energy policies enacted under Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Tracy points to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), passed in 2021, as a key factor behind the rising bills. "Since the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) passed back in 2021, Senate Republicans and I have been raising the alarm. We warned what would happen if Illinois rushed to shut down reliable power sources without a backup plan. And now, those warnings have come true," she said.

She argues that CEJA’s goals—100 percent renewable energy by 2050 and a carbon-free power sector by 2045—are not being met in practice. According to Tracy, only about 14 percent of Illinois’ electricity currently comes from renewables, making future targets difficult to achieve.

Tracy also highlighted a sharp increase in capacity costs after Ameren Illinois received new rate results from grid operator MISO earlier this year. The cost per megawatt rose from $30 to $666 as of June 1. She calls this development “a policy failure,” stating: "It wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t mismanagement. It was a policy failure. Plain and simple."

Governor Pritzker’s response has been inadequate, according to Tracy: "And what’s Governor Pritzker doing about it? He’s pointing fingers. Blaming the grid. Blaming the market. Blaming everyone except the very administration that pushed these policies in the first place."

In response, Tracy has introduced several legislative proposals intended to address what she describes as an energy crisis:

"First, Senate Bill 1234 creates a Generation Reliability Task Force. This team will dig into how CEJA and other energy laws are impacting prices and reliability using real data, not political spin.

Second, Senate Bill 1235 puts the brakes on the 2045 shutdown of coal and natural gas plants. It also clears the way to build new natural gas peaker plants, which help keep the lights on when renewables fall short, like during heat waves or cold snaps.

And third, Senate Bill 1236 cuts through the bureaucratic mess at the Illinois EPA. We’ve had critical energy projects like the Lincoln Land Energy Center stuck in permitting limbo for over a decade. That’s unacceptable. We need to modernize that process so reliable power can actually get online, not sit on a desk collecting dust."

Tracy emphasized her support for clean energy but stressed current limitations: "Let me be clear, this isn’t about turning our backs on clean energy. It’s about being honest with people. Right now, wind and solar alone cannot power Illinois homes and businesses 24/7."

She also advocated for nuclear power as part of Illinois' energy mix: "And let’s talk about nuclear. It’s clean. It’s reliable. It’s affordable."

Senator Tracy represents Illinois’ 50th Senate District after being elected in 2023 as Steve McClure's successor.

"The bottom line? Illinois families are already stretched thin by taxes, groceries, housing costs and now they’re being hit with sky-high energy bills too," said Tracy.

"This isn’t about politics," she continued."It’s about people...The Governor had his chance to get this right.He didn’t.Now families are paying the price.I’m here to work for the people who can’t afford to wait another year for common sense energy reform.Enough is enough.Let’s fix this problem now!"

Residents interested in supporting Tracy's proposed reforms can sign her petition urging action on her legislative package.