SPRINGFIELD – Controversy about Exelon's plan before the General Assembly that the company says would save the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants is hitting fever pitch in the days before an expected vote. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association support Exelon's proposal, while the Technology & Manufacturing Association and Americans for Prosperity-IL's oppose it.
State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) raised her opposition to Senate Bill 2814 Monday, writing on her Facebook page, "I will be voting no on this legislation…." and proceeded to point out what she sees as "a few of the problems with the bill:"
- This bill hinges on faulty science that buys into climate change alarmism despite the debunking of the IPCC findings and the recognition of the “Great Pause” – 18 years of no global warming from 1997-2015.
- This bill requires ratepayers to fund crony capitalism of huge profitable companies and favored green energy companies. Exelon net income was $2.25 billion in 2015.
- This bill is BIG Government saying all ratepayers must pay an additional $1 billion so ComEd can buy insulation and light bulbs for folks in the name of energy efficiency.
- This bill rejects Illinois’ competitive advantage in coal. Coal accounts for over 40% of Illinois energy production. You need 600 square miles of wind power to equal the same amount of energy from one coal plant.
- This bill makes Illinois ratepayers subsidize the production of nuclear energy when much of that energy does not stay in Illinois but is instead transported across state lines. Over 40% of the energy we produce is excess of our needs and then distributed across state lines.
- This bill protects certain classes of workers in Illinois when all industries should receive the same treatment.
- This bill disregards the movement away from wind and solar that is happening in Europe because you cannot run a modern economy on dilute and intermittent energy like wind and solar.
- This bill, in direct contravention of its intentions, will require more fossil fuel, not less, as back up energy sources if wind and solar are forced to become a larger portion of our energy mix.
This is not true at all: “debunking of the IPCC findings and the recognition of the “Great Pause” – 18 years of no global warming from 1997-2015”
See page 5 from the World Meteorological Organization: https://wedocs.unep.org/rest/bitstreams/11935/retrieve
The trend upwards has continued. Usually when people cherry-pick years, they choose ones that don’t show warming. In this case, even the years chosen show warming.
Once again, Rep. Ives is willing to take a principled stand in support of the Illinois taxpayers regardless of party. We need more Representatives who are ACTUALLY looking out for taxpayers. This bill is crony capitalism at its worst and typical of Illinois politics.
If the governor signs it, then he’s a true idiot pandering ahead of 2018 and the “I don’t know who I’ll vote for President” idiot will be ex-governor in 2 years. His legacy will be the ruination of Illinois ahead of Trump’s legacy as one of our greatest Presidents.
I bet you voted for Hillary,moocher. Yes, affluent people can be moochers, too. 47 or 48% of rich people voted for Hillary Rotten. Why can’t people in Illinois get what people in Mizzou get? http://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20161129/my-view-washington-can-help-to-make-coal-cleaner
Billionaire RINO Bruce Rauner is looking to bailout corporate interests through taxpayer dollars? What an incredible, unbelievable, unlooked-for surprise…
Tell that to Pope Francis: “Never been such a clear need for science” to protect the planet
You mean Jorge Bergolio.