(The Center Square) – A proposal to create a new energy commission has renewed policy debate over the economic and environmental impact of state policies.
State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr, D-Elwood, told the Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee on Thursday that House Bill 5195 would create the Illinois Future of Energy Choice and Economic Impact Commission.
Walsh said the feeling from the business community is that Illinois is facing “an insecure time coming up” when it comes to energy needs.
Ramiro Hernandez of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce told the committee that businesses are increasingly making decisions based on energy policies, and HB 5195 would bring stakeholders to the table.
“Most importantly, this commission will help bring a strong focus to the economic impact of energy policy decisions,” Hernandez said.
Illinois Environmental Council CEO Jen Walling said the commission would examine eliminating closure dates for coal and natural gas production as mandated in the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
“These timelines are not arbitrary. They’re the backbone of our commitment to decarbonization, and reopening them is going to create uncertainty for investors, delay clean energy deployment and risk backsliding on our climate goals,” Walling said.
State Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur, said Illinois is not doing a good job of meeting CEJA’s clean energy mandates.
“These goals may be a tad too aggressive. Coal-fired power plants are seeing the writing on the wall. They’re not renewing. They’re not maintaining. They’re not investing,” Deering said.
Deering said lawmakers get calls every day about energy costs, and she favors repealing CEJA altogether.
State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, said she was bothered to hear about encouraging coal plants.
“This is the only planet we got, guys, so we need to do better. A committee like this needs to include environmental groups if it’s to be formed,” Blair-Sherlock said.
Walsh said the commission would have no authority and members would not be compensated. The panel would meet quarterly and make recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly.
After Walsh said he would hold the bill on second reading and continue discussions, the energy and environment committee advanced HB 5195 by a vote of 27-0.
