House Advances Energy Bill
Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea), House sponsor of a major energy package. (Photo: Capitol News Illinois)
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An energy package placing storage, and not supply, at the center of the legislation advanced out of the House Wednesday night on a mostly party-line vote with Republicans and Democrats arguing over how to reduce skyrocketing electric rates for businesses and consumers.
SB 25 cleared the House 70-37 Wednesday evening. Critics say the bill will raise energy rates on business and consumers. Supporters say it will increase grid reliability and, eventually, bring rates down.
“If you vote for this bill, it is a guaranteed rate increase to ratepayers,” said Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville).
The bill includes eventual new fees for ratepayers to pay for things like battery storage facilities for wind and solar energy.
The bill also includes new requirements on utilities to expand energy efficiency programs to reduce energy demand.
Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea), who sponsored the bill, said it will “guarantee our state has access to plentiful, affordable, and clean energy” and called it “a solution that delivers all of the above [energy] and sets our state up for future economic success.”
One provision of the bill did have widespread bipartisan support, though. It lifts a state-level moratorium on constructing new nuclear power plants. A bill lifting the moratorium for small scale reactors was passed in 2023.
One Democrat, Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), voted against the bill. No Republican supported it. Senate passage is expected today.
