A team of legislators and labor, business and community leaders said Thursday they support legislation for a state-specific low carbon portfolio standard in Illinois, Exelon Corp. said.
The portfolio would place Illinois as a leader in seeking solutions for reducing carbon emissions without negatively affecting consumers.
The legislation was introduced as SB 1585 in the House and HB 3293 in the House. The legislation would increase renewable energy and reliably maintain affordable electricity for businesses and individuals while reducing carbon emissions. The legislation would achieve this without stopping nuclear power plants from operating.
The legislation would obligate electric utilities to purchase low-carbon energy credits as part of the solution.
“Illinois needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy that will help reduce harmful air emissions, grow renewable energy and maintain our state’s existing nuclear plants, which are our leading source of carbon-free energy,” state Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) said. “With a 70 percent carbon-free energy standard, this legislation would make Illinois the national leader in ensuring a clean energy future – even ahead of other environmental leaders like California.”
The legislation is based on a HR 1146 report by four state agencies that determined the effect of nuclear plant closings on environmental, economic, and reliable electricity solutions. The state’s nuclear power plants provide approximately half of the state’s electricity.
“This comprehensive legislation balances the need to preserve our nuclear plants while at the same time promoting other low-carbon energy resources such as wind, solar, hydro and clean coal, among others,” state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said. “The low carbon portfolio standard doesn’t pick energy winners and losers. It rewards all low-carbon energy sources – including wind, solar and nuclear - equally through a competitive market.”
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