Bill aimed at keeping Illinois Exelon plant passes committee

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) - Legislation aimed at keeping Exelon's nuclear generating plant near Cordova has passed an Illinois House committee but still is subject to tweaking by groups that want to remake the state's energy policy.

The House Energy Committee approved the bill on a 9-1 vote Wednesday night, according to the Moline Dispatch & Rock Island Argus (http://bit.ly/2goxqsR).

Exelon officials warned in June they planned to close the Quad-Cities Generating Station in 2018 unless the state implements nuclear power subsidies. In addition to subsidies for coal, the proposal also includes support for renewable energy.

The plant provides Rock Island County with 900 jobs and property tax revenue.

Republican state Sen. Neil Anderson of Rock Island said the vote came with an agreement that the bill will be subject to further committee work after it's heard on the House floor.

The Illinois Solar Energy Association criticized the bill as detrimental to solar power in the state.

"Demand charges complicate residential ratepayers' electric bills and constrain individual control over electric bills," a statement released by ISEA said. "A solar owner's peak electricity consumption (evenings) is typically not in sync with peak solar production (noon) and therefore cost savings will not be maximized."

According to the Better Energy Solutions for Tomorrow Coalition, the proposal will cost $24 billion. While the group doesn't oppose nuclear power, it says it is against increasing costs without providing benefits.

Anderson said the floor readings are scheduled for Nov. 29, when the General Assembly reconvenes its fall veto session.

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Information from: The Rock Island Argus, http://www.qconline.com/index.shtml