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Gov. Pritzker vetoes four bills, including one to lift state’s nuclear power moratorium (Updated)

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* Press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker vetoed the following legislation:

Senate Bill 76 – Veto
Senate Bill 76 removes the moratorium on new construction of nuclear power plants to allow for the construction of both advanced and traditional large-scale nuclear reactors in Illinois.

The bill is vetoed because the vague definitions in the bill, including the overly broad definition of advanced reactors, will open the door to the proliferation of large-scale nuclear reactors that are so costly to build that they will cause exorbitant ratepayer-funded bailouts. Additionally, it provides no regulatory protections or updates to address the health and safety of Illinois residents who would live and work around these new reactors.

House Bill 2507 – Amendatory Veto
House Bill 2507 addresses many issues surrounding property taxes, including important property tax relief for surviving spouses of first responders and other more technical changes that the Pritzker Administration supports.

The Governor has issued an Amendatory Veto due to a change that was added to give private nursing home owners in Cook County a property tax break. That break passes the tax burden to Suburban Cook County homeowners and small businesses, with the most impact felt in the South Suburbs. That change to property taxes on homeowners risks driving up costs for residents and threatens local school funding.

House Bill 2878 – Amendatory Veto
House Bill 2878 addresses procurement issues important to the Pritzker Administration. But, because the bill allows for the creation of public private partnerships (P3s) with counties, municipalities, and any other unit of local government without proper oversight in place, the Governor has issued an Amendatory Veto.

The Governor has removed this provision through an Amendatory Veto that creates a local pathway for private industry to enter P3 agreements that skirts transparency and anti-corruption requirements established in state statute, including ethics, BEP, campaign finance, and procurement laws. It also puts the state at greater risk of project failure by decreasing competition and reducing the opportunity for public input currently required under state law during the P3 project planning and implementation process.

House Bill 3643 – Veto
House Bill 3643 amends the School Code to require the Illinois State Board of Education to enter into a statewide education master contract to provide religious dietary options to all Illinois school districts.

The bill is vetoed because it requires the Illinois State Board of Education to enter into a master contract they cannot execute because this is a local school district responsibility. Local school districts, not the Illinois State Board of Education, have the expertise and understanding of local needs required to enter into food service contracts based on federal USDA nutrition guidelines. The bill would restrict the capability that local school districts have to contract meal vendors based on their students’ unique local and cultural needs.

…Adding… Links to full veto messages…

* Jen Walling with the Illinois Environmental Council sent me this earlier today…

Hi Rich,

Attached is a letter asking for a veto on SB76 and I wanted to let you know that Jack Darin from Sierra Club and I have had productive conversations with the Governor’s office and Leader Gabel on behalf of Speaker Welch with respect to our concerns on this issue this week.

* The letter from Walling and Darin

Dear Governor Pritzker,

The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC), Sierra Club Illinois, and our allies respectfully request that you veto SB76—a bill that would lift Illinois’ decades-old moratorium on new nuclear facilities.

Illinois already has the most nuclear reactors in the country, and we should not add to the growing stockpiles of waste in Illinois communities. The original concerns about constructing new nuclear power plants that led the General Assembly to impose the current moratorium remain today, and in fact, those concerns are arguably greater now than they were in 1987. We are no closer to a national solution for the disposal of dangerous high-level nuclear wastes. As a result, Illinois bears the burden of storing this waste in our communities, including along the shores of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. These wastes have significant safety risks and threaten our drinking water and communities.

In addition, nuclear power is extremely expensive. Efforts in other states to build new nuclear plants are plagued with high cost overruns and extensive delays. These exorbitant costs not only dwarf those associated with readily available clean energy technologies, but they also threaten to derail the progress Illinois is now making to deploy win-win solutions like renewable energy, storage, and energy efficiency programs. Illinois should continue prioritizing these investments, which support good union jobs and pathways to prosperity for our marginalized communities, rather than encourage highly speculative proposals for new nuclear energy that jeopardize our clean energy future.

SB76 will not solve any grid capacity issues in Illinois. Illinois does not need the massive, decades-long rate hikes it would take to attempt to site and build new nuclear power plants that wouldn’t be available for over a decade. Illinois does need action and investment now in transmission, storage, energy efficiency, and demand response solutions to ensure adequate capacity and protect consumers from spikes in fossil fuel prices. While Illinois hosts roughly 11 gigawatts of nuclear power, over 700 gigawatts of additional power are awaiting interconnection approval from regional energy markets across the country to backfill the retirement of uneconomic power plants. The majority of these resources waiting in line are solar, wind, and battery storage—proven technologies that are already creating good jobs and delivering consumer savings. These smart solutions should remain our focus.

The rules, regulations, and oversight for all nuclear plants are not up to date. SB76 removes the moratorium on nuclear power without a full study and review of whether current rules and regulations are sufficient to site, build, and operate a nuclear power plant safely. The nuclear moratorium law has been in place since 1987, when the Illinois Commerce Commission supervised and regulated power plants. For the past 25 years, there has been no entity in Illinois that oversees, regulates, or determines generally what plants are built, when, or where. Moreover, the language about granting certificates of public need and necessity no longer applies. SB76 does nothing to update programs or provide additional capacity to IEPA or IEMA, which would be needed to appropriately regulate nuclear facilities.

The siting laws for nuclear are completely insufficient. There are little to no local nuclear permitting and zoning rules on the books. Any plant could be built anywhere at any time, with only approval at the federal level. The issue is even worse in the case of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, which are proposed to be small units in shipping containers deployed within communities. Projects could, in theory, be deployed near residences, for example.

Finally, we have not solved the issue of waste. Every lawmaker representing the closed Zion nuclear plant voted no on SB76 because of the devastating long-term impact the closed Zion plant is having on the community. The waste will remain at any of these sites for all time, preventing future development or natural resource protection at any site.

Our community is proud of the work we did together with the General Assembly and stakeholders to enact the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021. CEJA gives Illinois a roadmap to a clean energy future that generates high-quality jobs equitably and attracts global investments in our communities. To sustain that progress, we must stay the course in implementing that vision and reject proposals that would distract our resources from this framework.

In conclusion, SB76 was moved forward without careful consideration, and signing it would open the door to increased risk, negative environmental impacts, and higher costs for consumers while jeopardizing our progress toward Illinois’ clean energy future. Thank you for your consideration of this veto request.

…Adding… Sen. Rezin on the nuke bill…

State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) issued the following statement in reaction to Governor Pritzker’s decision to veto Senate Bill 76, which would have ended state’s moratorium on building advanced, small modular nuclear reactors:

“The governor is clearly putting his own partisan political ambitions over what is in the best interest of the people of Illinois by his sole decision to veto bi-partisan legislation to improve Illinois’ future energy portfolio sustainably and cost-effectively.

Creating a sustainable energy future for our children and our children’s children is not a zero-sum game. We must take advantage of the massive advancements in nuclear technology if we truly want to reach a carbon-free future. Advanced nuclear reactors would help supplement the flaws that wind and solar unfortunately have by providing reliable power 24/7, because wind and solar alone don’t have the infrastructure or technology to provide our state with the reliable, affordable and efficient energy it needs.

Senate Bill 76 passed out of the General Assembly with veto-proof rollcalls because the members of the General Assembly who live and work in our communities know that it is our constituents, and not special interests and political ambitions we are here to serve. That’s why I have immediately filed paperwork to override this veto during our upcoming Veto Session this fall.”

…Adding… Operating Engineers Local 150 on the AV of HB2878…

This amendatory veto won’t impact the I-55 managed lanes project. The Governor’s office wants to ensure that appropriate guardrails are in place, which is well within his purview, and we look forward to working with his office later this year on legislation that will achieve that.

…Adding… Not sure where to put this, but here you go…

In light of today’s news on the assault weapons ban from the Illinois Supreme Court and Governor Pritzker’s veto of Senate Bill 76, below is a statement from House Republican Leader Tony McCombie:

“The extremism of Illinois Democrats knows no bounds. More fraud, more federal investigations, higher energy costs, and more rights infringed.

“Last week State Auditors revealed $5.2 billion of fraud within the unemployment system - some of which was collected by Governor Pritzker’s Executive Branch employees.

“The same week, another federal corruption trial began and Democrats are silent about the need for meaningful ethics reforms.

“Governor Pritzker vetoed a pathway to inexpensive, clean energy, all because Illinois Democrats are dead-set on virtue signaling instead of problem-solving.

“And today, Constitutional rights were besieged by the Democratic Supreme Court that Governor Pritzker spent millions to elect.

“When will enough be enough?”

…Adding… Sen. Villivalam on the kosher and halal bill…

State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after Governor JB Pritzker vetoed House Bill 3643, which would have required all public schools, the University of Illinois Hospital and state correctional facilities to offer a kosher and halal food option upon request:

“I am disappointed in the governor’s veto of providing Halal and Kosher food options to our youth in schools.

“The innovative concept of the Illinois State Board of Education securing a master contract to accomplish the above goal was one that was brought forward by school districts in their attempt to meet the diverse dietary needs of our students.

“As I have from the beginning, I look forward to continuing robust discussions to accomplish this goal.”

…Adding… ICJC…

Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) on Governor Pritzker’s Amendatory Veto of HB 2878.

“We applaud Governor JB Pritzker for his amendatory veto of HB 2878, calling for greater public input into project planning and implementation. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gases and past transportation projects have not adequately considered impacts on communities, and especially environmental justice communities already overwhelmed by pollution from big trucks and other vehicles. That input should, at a minimum, include a greenhouse gas analysis of the project and whether there are alternatives that provide more efficient and affordable transportation options.”

…Adding… Leader Gabel…

Majority Leader Robyn Gabel released the following statement Friday:

“I’m pleased to see the governor’s veto of nuclear expansion. Based on concerns raised by the Illinois Environmental Council and Sierra Club, I asked the governor to veto Senate Bill 76. While discussion of the bill was focused on small-scale generators, the language was much broader and would have completely removed the moratorium on any size of nuclear project.

“As IEC noted, our rules, regulations and oversight of nuclear plants is not properly updated to safely accommodate such a dramatic change. There are little to no local nuclear permitting and zoning rules on the books. Unresolved issues regarding waste are also concerning.

“For these reasons, I requested the governor veto this bill, and allow stakeholders to discuss these concerns.”

…Adding… Rep. Larry Walsh…

“I am disappointed in Governor Pritzker’s decision to veto Senate Bill 76. As we maneuver ourselves towards cleaner energy production, nuclear technology must be an option. Senate Bill 76 was an opportunity to allow new, safe, and efficient reactors to be a tool in our energy toolbox. For over two years, hearings on this issue have been held in a bipartisan manner and Senate Bill 76 was the culmination of those efforts. Unfortunately, there are business interests and special interest groups within the renewable energy community that have hijacked this issue and the process for their own personal gain, financial and political.

Despite this setback, we will continue to work to expand clean energy generation in Illinois so that our grid is able to meet the shortfalls that RTOs have forecasted in the coming years. Unfortunately with this veto, that work has become harder.”

…Adding… The Illinois Environmental Council and Sierra Club Illinois …

“Governor Pritzker acted today to protect Illinois communities from dangerous regulatory gaps in SB76,” said Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jen Walling. “Nuclear power comes with significant safety risks and results in highly hazardous wastes that threaten our drinking water, with no safe, permanent waste solution in sight. Rather than abandon all safeguards, Governor Pritzker recognized that such substantial risks merit the highest protective guardrails our state can offer.”

“SB76 would have opened the door to increased risk, negative environmental impacts, and higher costs for consumers while jeopardizing our progress toward Illinois’ clean energy future. We applaud Governor Pritzker for vetoing the bill and ensuring that Illinois follows the roadmap laid out in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act toward that vision for our future,” said Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin.

* Isabel did a recent coverage roundup…

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 11:59 am

Comments

  1. ===SB76 does nothing to update programs or provide additional capacity to IEPA or IEMA, which would be needed to appropriately regulate nuclear facilities.===

    Whether or not one is a fan of nuclear energy they are making some pretty good points.

    Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:20 pm

  2. The governor has officially thrown in his lot with the insane position espoused by modern environmental fanatics that climate change is an unparalleled existential threat, it is caused solely by human carbon emissions, and yet we refuse to allow development of the one technology that uses no carbon to generate power *and* can actually meet all of our baseload power needs far into the future.

    Depressing for the future of this state and the nation

    Comment by JB13 Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:22 pm

  3. For a Democratic Governor with a Democratic supermajority, these vetoes seem like serious staff-level failures. Both bills were pretty prominently debated, the Governor’s office should’ve registered their opposition well before the sign-or-veto stage.

    As for the nuclear bill, congrats to the environmental movement on their glorious victory. American scientists are closer than ever to cracking fusion technology, but the message from Illinois is loud and clear: absolutely no nuclear energy innovation allowed. Decarbonization doesn’t count unless we tie one hand behind our backs. Maybe once climate change reaches emergency levels we’ll consider the benefits of this carbon-free energy source. (A big hearty /snark on that last paragraph, just to be clear)

    Comment by vern Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:30 pm

  4. I don’t understand why they didn’t do more with hydroelectric a few years ago when they were working on the energy bill. We have three major navigable rivers going through/along this state. Hydro is a consistent supply, our lock and dams are long past their lifespan and can’t handle a full tow. Which is something ag groups and barge companies have been complaining about for ever.

    Seems like it would’ve solved a lot of issues for a lot of groups in one fell swoop.

    Comment by Notorious JMB Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:37 pm

  5. JB’s objections are silly. The newest large-scale reactors using Westinghouse ap1000 technology are just beginning to come online, Vogtle3 just power-up, and Vogtle4 will be online in 2 years. There is a worldwide nuclear renaissance and IL should be included. These projects are bi-partisan as they employ thousands of union workers while securing a reliable baseload power source that has to be a foundation for adding more renewables that are diffuse. Power plants whether modular or large scale are also great for the local economy they generate huge local property taxes $ for schools. If ever there were a time for a three-fifths majority of both chambers to join together this would be it.

    Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:37 pm

  6. Instead of providing a roadmap to the Legislature, JB should have amendatory vetoed the nuclear bill with his preferred changes. The fact he didn’t is telling on his apparent personal feelings on nukes.

    Personally, I think Illinois should be encouraging the nuclear energy, not setting up roadblocks.

    Comment by RNUG Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:48 pm

  7. Personally, I am happy not to have to deal with a nuclear reactor being constructed next door without any permits or oversight.

    Comment by Oklahoma Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:52 pm

  8. == they didn’t do more with hydroelectric … ==

    Since they are navigable rivers, you have to have the Feds (believe Army Corps of Engineering) involved in the whole thing.

    And yes, we should be maintaining / upgrading what we have. My grandfather helped build the hydroelectric plant and dam at Keokuk, Iowa. It’s over a century old now.

    Comment by RNUG Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:53 pm

  9. “without any permits or oversight”

    Not to worry, the EPA, and NRC regulations - which currently take 10-plus years from concept to completion are the same for all reactors be they small modular ones or huge commercial ones.

    Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:56 pm

  10. Nukes are very tightly regulated at the Federal level. If there’s issues with this bill I hope they get sorted out, but can’t help but feel that some of this boils down to misunderstanding nuclear energy.

    Nuclear energy is nearly 60% of our state’s electricity production. It’s carbon free. Renewables are what, 15%? If we care about being carbon free as quickly as possible it feels odd that the carbon free energy already at 60% continues to be banned from growing.

    It’s especially galling that the I55 expansion appears ready to continue and spew more pollution on environmentally marginalized communities. Can’t help but think the gov picked the wrong bill here.

    Comment by JJJJJJJJJJ Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 12:58 pm

  11. ===Both bills were pretty prominently debated===

    lol

    The AV’d amendment to HB2878 was passed *the same day* it was intro’d in the Senate.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 1:01 pm

  12. ==The rules, regulations, and oversight for all nuclear plants are not up to date. SB76 removes the moratorium on nuclear power without a full study and review of whether current rules and regulations are sufficient to site, build, and operate a nuclear power plant safely. The nuclear moratorium law has been in place since 1987, when the Illinois Commerce Commission supervised and regulated power plants. For the past 25 years, there has been no entity in Illinois that oversees, regulates, or determines generally what plants are built, when, or where.==

    Are the Governor and IEC worried about the current plants that are supplying nearly 60% of our state’s electricity? Are they unsafe? Are we in danger? What are we doing to shut them down? If this is truly the state of our regulatory environment then surely we must ask quickly.

    Comment by JJJJJJJJJJ Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 1:07 pm

  13. Am I the only one who read the veto messages?

    ==The fact he didn’t is telling on his apparent personal feelings on nukes==

    The message literally says there is “real potential” for SMRs. It’s written down.

    ==these vetoes seem like serious staff-level failures. Both bills were pretty prominently debated==

    No, they weren’t. And the veto message for one of them says the Speaker actually asked for the veto.

    ==the message from Illinois is loud and clear: absolutely no nuclear energy innovation allowed==

    Again, “real potential for SMRs which could in the future safely provide power…” is literally in writing.

    Comment by Who else Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 1:15 pm

  14. === Vogtle3 just power-up, and Vogtle4 will be online in 2 years. ===

    They started building those reactors in 2013. Do you remember 2013? That’s the year Ke$ha played the Illinois State Fair.

    ===thrown in his lot with the insane position===

    We do this thing called a veto session. The legislature can address any concerns then. If they can’t override the veto, they can also introduce a fixed bill in the next session.

    ===these vetoes seem like serious staff-level failures.===

    I was asking myself where the legislative liaisons were for IEPA and IEMA when reading the letter.

    I sort of expect the legislature to produce good legislation, but I also expect the executive branch, especially agency level legislative liaisons, to help with that process.

    Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 1:19 pm

  15. 5.2 billion in unemployment fraud and potentially losing out on 600 million in federal matching funds because of a programming error?

    JB’s administration is failing in the basic blocking and tackling of state government.

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 1:20 pm

  16. === Both bills were pretty prominently debated ===

    Sorry, to clarify I was referring to SB76 and HB3643, the two bills Pritzker vetoed in full.

    Comment by vern Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 1:30 pm

  17. === I sort of expect the legislature to produce good legislation ===

    Why would you expect that?

    Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 2:12 pm

  18. ==the insane position espoused by modern environmental fanatics that climate change is an unparalleled existential threat, it is caused solely by human carbon emissions==

    The insane thing is to think that the conclusions of over a century of research into the impacts of carbon on the climate is “insane.” (Also, “it is caused solely by human carbon emissions” is a straw man argument no one on the environmental protection side is making.)

    With respect to holding off on new nukes, one of the key concerns is what to do with the waste. Our country has no place to put the stuff; most of it is stored in “temporary” facilities constructed on the site of each nuclear power plant. I would rather we not add more nukes to the state until we have places to put the waste we already have waiting for a home. On top of all that, mining and refining the fuel has a significant, negative environmental impact.

    Pretending that there is some energy solution with little or no impact is BS that allows people to carry on as if everything is fine. It’s not. What we really need is a program to reduce energy use by helping folks do things like sealing and insulating homes and putting in high efficiency appliances. We can offset the need for new power sources and the damage they cause by reducing demand.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 2:17 pm

  19. Cost overruns in constructing the IL nukes led to painfully high utility bills and to years of poor ComEd reliability after it cut costs by underinvesting in its distribution grid. The ILGA has passed two bailouts because the nukes can’t compete on cost with lower priced gas and renewables.

    Vogtle came in 7 years late and $17B overbudget.

    But please tell me more about “inexpensive” and “affordable” nuclear energy.

    Comment by Abe Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 2:23 pm

  20. RNUG, don’t forget the Coast Guard as well.

    Comment by Notorious JMB Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 2:28 pm

  21. But please tell me more about “inexpensive” and “affordable” nuclear energy.

    The original Vogtle contractor/funder went bankrupt adding $4 billion and at least three years to the project. Reactor models have a very, very long life cycle and new designs will always have issues; the AP100 is now established. I listen to the industry where there are 60-plus reactors under construction worldwide.

    https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide.aspx

    Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 2:34 pm

  22. So if I’m understanding the veto message and what Jen Walling sent with her letter to Rich, Leader Gabel acting on behalf of the Speaker’s Leadership Team asked for and was granted the veto of a bill that the Speaker and 10 of 14 Leadership Team members voted in favor of?

    Comment by Illiana Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 2:36 pm

  23. Environmental organizations fighting against one of the best and most reliable carbon zero forms of energy is so depressing.

    Look to Germany where they retired their nuclear fleet of power plants and promptly became more dependent on coal and gas. Wind and solar are great, but neither have the consistency of nuclear reactors that are needed in a healthy power network.

    Comment by Incandenza Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 3:11 pm

  24. The IEC isn’t giving up anything for free. The environment comes second to fundraising.

    Comment by Franklin Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 3:16 pm

  25. =JB’s administration is failing in the basic blocking and tackling of state government.=

    So much evidence to the contrary. But you know that.

    You wanted Bailey to be governor, how is he doing these days (spoiler alert, see previous post)?

    Comment by JS Mill Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 4:04 pm

  26. ===is failing in the basic blocking and tackling of state government.===

    Meh.

    You cheered a guy who signed one budget in 4 years, his own wife’s social service sued his administration, and 6 downgrades in bond ratings.

    Frankly, you wouldn’t know a block or a tackle if you were the dummy players practiced on.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 11, 23 @ 4:07 pm

  27. * HB2507: Let’s be clear This bill was to equalize tax assessments of skilled nursing homes with the rest of the State of IL. Every where else in the State the are assessed at 10% and in Cook County they are assessed at 25%.

    Comment by Kane County Cougar Monday, Aug 14, 23 @ 10:03 am

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