West Central Reporter

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) wonders where the state goes from here following Democrats’ passage of new clean energy legislation.

“The one thing Illinois has had going for it for years is reliable and affordable energy,” Tracy said in a video posted to YouTube. “When we recruit businesses to come to Illinois, that was one of the first things we could mention is that we have affordable, reliable energy for them. Illinois has been an exporter of energy rather than an importer.”

Tracy worries that could change since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed off on the bill he has called "transformative" and seeks to shift state energy policy in the direction of renewable energy sources and away from a reliance on fossil fuels. The bill also calls for the closure of the downstate Prairie State Coal plant, while pumping nearly $700 million in subsidies to Exelon over the next five years to keep three nuclear plants running.

“Certainly, this bill addressed keeping our nuclear fleet online - because this is very much a part of our energy portfolio,” she said. “That could have been a totally separate bill. Instead, it was joined with a lot of other provisions that were driven by environmentalists. It seems like we’re trying to set a standard that maybe will put us in a position where we have to import energy from the same carbon that we’re trying to get away from. We are going to cost every ratepayer in this state more money.”

Tracy isn’t the only Republican lawmaker expressing concern.

“The availability of affordable and reliable energy for Illinois residents is in jeopardy thanks to legislation rammed through the House this week,” state Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) said in a press release. “This legislation is nothing but a goodie bag for special interests.”