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* Background on today’s action can be found here and here. House Democrats are being briefed on a climate/energy bill agreement hammered out this afternoon at the insistence of Speaker Chris Welch between the unions, the governor’s office and Rep. Jay Hoffman.
The language is a little involved, but, as I understand it, the huge coal-fired Prairie State power plant must hit a 45 percent carbon reduction target by 2035. If it misses the target, it has three more years to hit the target or close one of its two generation units by 2038. The whole plant goes offline in 2045 unless there is a 100 percent reduction in emissions. The $20 million a year for ten years to help finance decarbonization which was in an earlier proposal is now out.
And I’m told the enviros are now on board.
* The House had teed up the bill for debate, but then both parties decided to caucus. An earlier version passed out of committee this afternoon.
…Adding… At the moment, House Democratic opponents include (but may not be limited to) Reps. Tarver, Crespo, Cassidy and Flowers. One other that I know of is said to be on the fence. But the greens claim they have four Republican votes, so, if that’s true, the proponents will have just enough to pass a bill.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:39 pm
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This deal was on the table nine days ago. Glad they’ve now done it, but this is just an acceptance of reality since about 1/2 the plant will be going offline in 2035 when dozens of municipal contracts expire.
Comment by Deja Vu Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:46 pm
I definitely understand that the horse trading is necessary to get this across the finish line but it’s nonetheless nerve-racking for those of us that live near Byron and Dresden where a shutdown would have great effect.
Comment by sladay Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:47 pm
Sheesh. End it already.
Comment by Oxfordian Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:47 pm
Did the check from Advocates for Reliable Energy clear yet?
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:48 pm
== This deal was on the table nine days ago. ==
That’s a lifetime ago. Different parties were negotiating then.
Comment by irony is fun Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:48 pm
47th, no.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:50 pm
Watching the energy policy of a State of 12 million people, be completely controlled by two regions with a total of 122,000 people, of which less than 2,000 would have their employment impacted, is a sight to behold.
No-one is interested in the thousands of people with asthma, the thousands of premature children born, or the hundreds of million in additional healthcare costs that are socialized by society.
Congrats to the coal lobby for winning this fight. You can now rest easy for a couple decades and fight again in 2040
Comment by Merica Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:52 pm
===This deal was on the table nine days ago===
False. The Senate’s proposal used lots of “offsets” to get to 95 percent reduction.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:53 pm
The state of Illinois government is so dysfunctional there are now squabbling about potentially shutting down one power plant 14-17 years from now while in five days another plant hangs in the balance.
Comment by RichieCago Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:01 pm
===dysfunctional there are now squabbling===
Can you even read? The squabbling is over.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:03 pm
Just curious — is CWLP part of the same deal, or does it only apply to Prairie State? Does anyone know?
Comment by SpiDem Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:05 pm
A few days ago we talked about how legislation never seems to be forever(or can be). This enables an abrupt 180, if, in 2045, there aren’t good options available. I like. I hold out the Chinese will develop some reliable carbon sequestration by then. Snark heavy.
Comment by Blue Dog Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:18 pm
Al is not smart.
Read the bill.
Comment by Ok Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:18 pm
The deal on the table 9 days ago was better, regardless of what the Governor’s office says. But understanding that would require reading and understanding science and regulations and finance and…oh never mind. It’s easier to demagogue.
Comment by Happy Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:24 pm
DejaVu, nice tidbit on muni contract expiration in 2035. Wonder if some will try to exit sooner as better deals are out there, renewable sourced, or not?
Comment by VerySmallRocks Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:25 pm
===Wonder if some will try to exit sooner===
Don’t think they can. They locked themselves in tight on a deal that looked too good to be true because it was.
Monorail [exclamation point]
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:28 pm
Monorail
Comment by Ok Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:29 pm
==but the greens claim they have four Republican votes, so, if that’s true, the proponents will have just enough to pass a bill.==
Is Chesney and Demmer two of them? as the Byron plant is in Chesney’s and the town is in Demmer’s.
Comment by sladay Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:55 pm
The $20 million a year charged to ratepayers for no reason except that they could is gone. Good!
Comment by Phew Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 5:30 pm
=Is Chesney and Demmer two of them? as the Byron plant is in Chesney’s and the town is in Demmer’s.=
That is what I heard and McCombie as well. She stated that to a group shec presented to yesterday and I was in attendance and heard her say so.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 5:38 pm
Rich is correct. There is no wiggling out of it.
What rich is not correct about is the deal on the table nine days ago. There were no offsets. From the senate amendment:
“ h) All public GHG-emitting units that use coal as a fuel source shall reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 105% of the unit’s 2021 annual carbon emission amount. At least 95% of the carbon dioxide emission reductions shall be attained through carbon capture and sequestration or unit retirement by 2045. The remainder of the total carbon dioxide emission reductions required by this subsection by 2045 and thereafter shall be attained through direct air carbon capture or any other available technology proven to directly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”
Comment by Southern Skeptic Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 7:25 pm
Does the updated bill include a fix for the surplus previously-collected Adjustable Block Program funds that were slated to be released back to ratepayers on 9/1?
Comment by Solar Nerd Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 7:32 pm
Solar Nerd- Easiest thing to do is a keyword “find” for that program in the bill- https://ilga.gov/legislation/102/SB/PDF/10200SB2408ham002.pdf
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 7:40 pm
TWBE
Comment by Medvale School for the Gifted. Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 8:42 pm
New 52 week high today for Exelon.
Comment by Medvale School for the Gifted. Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 8:48 pm
Yay, it passed easily with 83 votes.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 9:31 pm
Outstanding speech and big win for the Speaker.
Comment by low level Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 9:32 pm
Great job Mr Speaker. 83 votes is awesome.
Comment by sladay Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 9:35 pm
83, bipartisan.
Well done, all
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 9:40 pm