RED BUD, IL – State Representative David Friess (R-Red Bud) issued the following statement
following a recent visit with members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus to the Midcontinent
Independent System Operator (MISO) headquarters in Indiana.
“Last month, I joined my colleagues in the Illinois Freedom Caucus for a visit to the MISO
headquarters in Indiana to learn more about the challenges facing Illinois’ energy grid.
“What we learned is alarming. Illinois is not putting nearly enough power on the grid. When my
colleague, Rep. Chris Miller, asked how much wind and solar we would need to meet Illinois’
energy goals by 2045, we did not receive a clear answer.”
“It is alarming that we are being forced to confront these massive energy challenges, yet we
cannot even get clear answers to basic questions about how Illinois is supposed to keep the
lights on.
“The reality is that the radical Democrats in Springfield continue to push an energy agenda
centered on wind and solar, but their political agenda cannot keep pace with the realities of the
grid.
“The Baldwin Power Plant is a 1,185-megawatt facility scheduled to go offline in December
2027. If 1,185 megawatts are taken off the grid, there must be a plan to put 1,185 megawatts on
the grid to ensure grid reliability. There is no such plan in Illinois.
“We need good, reliable baseload generation, which Illinois is not producing.”
For questions or media inquiries, please contact Rep. Friess’ District Office at 618-282-7284.