SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Republicans are sounding the alarm about a proposed clean energy plan, saying it will only increase costs for consumers.
The Illinois Environmental Council rallied at the state capitol last week to urge state lawmakers to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act and legislation to overhaul transit leadership and invest $1.5 billion for safer, cleaner, more reliable public transit.
In response, Illinois House Republicans urged their colleagues in both the House and Senate to say no, to vote no, to what they called “part two of JB Pritzker power plan.”
GOP members said the first version didn’t go well, and they believe the second version of it will not go well either.
Consensus among the GOP is the plan is bad for job creators, bad for families, bad for taxpayers and rate payers.
State Representative CD Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) said “proponents of the bill say it will accelerate Illinois’ clean energy progress while protecting consumers amidst a rise in energy demand. Sorry, but we are not buying what you’re selling.”
State Representative Travis Weaver (R-Pekin) said Illinois is on the brink on an energy crisis, a crisis driven by bad policies driven by the Pritzker administration. He pointed to the fact that since the governors election in 2018, Illinois has fallen nine places, from 27th to 36th in energy affordability.
House Republican Deputy Leader Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) said that the Pritzker power plan is bad for job creators, bad for families, bad for taxpayers and ratepayers.
Davidsmeyer said Illinois is struggling with an energy crisis…prices and demand are spiking…the state is facing a significant decrease in energy generation at the same time demand is increasing. Due to misguided public policy as well as economic market factors, Illinois’ power generation capacity has taken a significant hit.