• Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Illinois Review
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
Illinois Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Illinois News

Manzullo: Illinois House Dems’ Clean Energy Jobs Act is a bad idea

Illinois Review by Illinois Review
February 26, 2020
in Illinois News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
26
SHARES
432
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Download

By former U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo - 

When I represented northern Illinois in the U.S. Congress, I focused my efforts on ensuring employers in our state were able to compete on a level playing field so they could thrive and create jobs for our residents.

Affordable energy costs were often a key factor that determined whether Illinois manufacturers—who consume large amounts of electricity—were able to compete with companies in other states and overseas.

You might also like

Economos: Illinois’ Pension Crisis – A Tale of Mismanagement

Mayor Johnson: Chicago ‘Police Dept. Will Not Ever Cooperate with ICE’

Chicago AM560 Axes Local Morning Radio Personality Amy Jacobson, Keeps Florida-based Host in Cost-Cutting Move

That’s why we should all applaud a recent order by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this past December that establishes fair electricity prices for those in the ComEd service area. The order would require a reconsideration of unnecessary subsidies so that businesses, households and taxpayers can get the electricity they need at the fairest price.

Unfortunately, some state lawmakers are trying to protect taxpayer subsidies for certain renewable energies and have pushed back on the FERC order. They are now considering legislation that could cost northern Illinois residents and businesses an additional $400 million annually in energy costs, according to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. The proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act, which has a slew of clean energy initiatives that are not funded, would continue to favor taxpayer subsidies and higher electric bills.

While the U.S. economy is strong overall, the Trump administration’s moves to restore needed long-term balance in our trade relationships and other developments have disrupted many businesses. To retain Illinois’ 600,000 manufacturing workers and attract new, well-paying jobs, state officials must replace distorting and unfair government mandates with free-market principles whenever possible.    

Illinois has a complex energy profile. It is served by different grids and wholesale markets, both imports and exports power, and is crossed by various interstate pipelines. Illinois is the fifth-largest energy consumer in the nation. The state’s energy policy must be responsive to these facts and adapt to changing realities. Otherwise, electricity customers, both residential and commercial, will have one more reason to leave the state.

When competitive electricity markets emerged 25 years ago, the idea was to provide the most affordable electricity possible to consumers. However, as Illinois and other states piled on subsidies, tax credits and other incentives to encourage carbon-free power generation, the opposite happened. Taxpayers and electricity customers are now paying hundreds of millions of dollars to prop up old facilities or build new ones.

Greenhouse gas emissions are at their lowest levels in years in many parts of the country mostly because power generators abandoned coal for cleaner-burning natural gas which became plentiful thanks to new exploration and extraction techniques. Since 2005, emissions have dropped 30 percent in the 13-state energy capacity region that includes northern Illinois. These were market-based responses, rather than government mandates, that helped reduce emissions.

FERC’s order is not a silver bullet to the subsidies distorting the power markets, but it provides a chance to reduce government spending and gives state taxpayers and energy customers a better deal. Illinois should welcome the opportunity for a fresh start.  

Don Manzullo represented Illinois’ 16th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2013. He served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business from 2001 to 2007 and founded the House Manufacturing Caucus

Related

Share10Tweet7
Previous Post

GOP state rep pushes effort for retroactive term limits

Next Post

Durbin and Duckworth vote against protecting babies born alive

Illinois Review

Illinois Review

Founded in 2005, Illinois Review is the leading perspective and source of conservative news, opinion and information in Illinois. Follow Illinois Review on X at @IllinoisReview.

Recommended For You

Economos: Illinois’ Pension Crisis – A Tale of Mismanagement

by James P. Economos, DDS
July 8, 2025
0
Economos: Illinois’ Pension Crisis – A Tale of Mismanagement

By James P. Economos, DDS, Opinion Contributor There’s been constant debate over Illinois' pension system – and for good reason. It remains chronically underfunded and plagued with issues...

Read moreDetails

Mayor Johnson: Chicago ‘Police Dept. Will Not Ever Cooperate with ICE’

by Illinois Review
July 8, 2025
0
Mayor Johnson: Chicago ‘Police Dept. Will Not Ever Cooperate with ICE’

By Illinois ReviewAt a Tuesday morning press conference at Chicago City Hall, Mayor Brandon Johnson — whose approval rating hovers around six percent — reiterated that local law...

Read moreDetails

Chicago AM560 Axes Local Morning Radio Personality Amy Jacobson, Keeps Florida-based Host in Cost-Cutting Move

by Illinois Review
July 1, 2025
0
Chicago AM560 Axes Local Morning Radio Personality Amy Jacobson, Keeps Florida-based Host in Cost-Cutting Move

By Illinois ReviewIn a shocking cost-cutting move Tuesday, Chicago’s AM560 The Answer terminated longtime morning host Amy Jacobson, as the struggling conservative station grapples with declining relevance –...

Read moreDetails

JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

by Illinois Review
June 30, 2025
0
JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

By Illinois ReviewIn one of the first nationwide hypothetical polls for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, Illinois Governor and billionaire JB Pritzker ranks at the bottom, receiving the...

Read moreDetails

Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

by Thomas Mccullagh
June 26, 2025
0
Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

Illinois is missing out on Trump’s U.S. manufacturing boom. While other states welcome new factories, Pritzker’s tax hikes and regulations keep businesses out—and force longtime employers to leave.

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Durbin and Duckworth vote against protecting babies born alive

Please login to join discussion

Best Dental Group

Related News

IL Freedom Caucus calls on Lurie Children’s Hospital to cease gender services for kids

October 27, 2022

Beckman: Is the Brigham Young University racial slur controversy another hoax?

October 27, 2022

Salvi polling shows closer race

October 27, 2022

Browse by Category

  • America First
  • Education
  • Faith & Family
  • Foreign Policy
  • Health Care
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Second Amendment
  • TRENDING
  • US NEWS
  • US Politics
  • World News
Illinois Review

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Navigate Site

  • Checkout
  • Home
  • Home – mobile
  • Login/Register
  • Login/Register
  • My account
  • My Account-
  • My Account- – mobile

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • Health Care
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • TRENDING
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Second Amendment
  • Faith & Family
  • Science
  • World News

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?