West Central Reporter

House Republicans in Illinois have voiced concerns about an impending energy cost crisis this summer and proposed measures to increase energy production capacity. Members of the Illinois House Energy & Environment and Public Utilities Committees held a press conference to address the issue, highlighting recent findings from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) capacity auction. The auction revealed a price surge to $666.50 per Megawatt-day for the upcoming summer, compared to $30 last year.

State Representative Dave Severin, serving as the Republican ranking member on the House Energy & Environment Committee, attributed the sharp rise in energy costs to Illinois' current energy policies. He stated, "House Republicans are concerned for the financial future of our constituents and our businesses, and for the future security, reliability, and affordability of our energy grid."

Representative Brad Halbrook pointed to the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) as a significant factor behind capacity shortages and escalating prices. Halbrook drew parallels between Illinois' situation and Spain's energy emergency caused by similar climate policies.

Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer outlined how CEJA has impacted price, capacity, and reliability since its enactment. He criticized current policies that mandate all electricity in Illinois come from zero-emission sources by 2045.

The consequences for customers in Ameren Illinois' region were detailed by Davidsmeyer: "Prices have skyrocketed in the downstate MISO grid for the Ameren service territory... This will result in an approximately 18% to 22% total bill increase for residential Ameren customers."

In response, House Republicans have introduced several bills aimed at rolling back provisions of CEJA:

- HB 4050 seeks to restore previous greenhouse gas provisions.

- HB 1544 extends deadlines by five years for reduced emissions.

- HB 1545 extends deadlines by ten years for certain units.

- HB 1546 provides a five-year extension specifically for coal-fueled units.

- HB 1547 offers a ten-year extension on emissions deadlines.

The proposed legislation aims to maintain jobs while addressing energy production challenges.