Remove special interests from energy policy

Lawmakers in Springfield debating Illinois' energy policy will find their task easier if they untether themselves from countless subsidies that are doing more harm than good.

A few years after enacting the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), special interests are seeking more giveaways for certain segments of the power generation sector. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) would require Illinois to rely completely on renewable energy by 2050, and taxpayers will get stuck with the tab. Among CEJA's distortions is continued taxpayer assistance for profitable nuclear power generator Exelon, even as feds probe the company's lobbying tactics.

CEJA would also overturn federal efforts to keep northern Illinois electricity prices low. A December 2019 order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would allow all energy sources in a 13-state region to compete on a level playing field. CEJA, however, would remove Illinois from that region and continue prioritizing and subsidizing renewable energy, costing homeowners and employers an additional $400 million annually, according to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

CEJA's focus on renewables - which account for only 7 percent of Illinois' electric power generation - is not the answer to rapidly reducing Illinois' carbon emissions. The transition from coal to natural gas - along with other market-based decisions - have helped reduce emissions by 30% since 2005 in the 13-state region that includes northern Illinois.

Here's a proposition for Illinois' elected officials: Just as market forces made natural gas cleaner and cheaper than coal, market forces should be free to determine the best ways to generate power that is reliable, affordable and clean. Competition in wholesale energy markets has cut utility bills and bolstered reliability for over 20 years. This is the best way to serve Illinois customers and taxpayers and achieve clean power goals.

Sherry Jesiel

Winthrop Harbor