Governor J.B. Pritzker has proposed a massive energy bill, the Consumers and Climate First Act, that includes provisions to limit nuclear power plants, close coal plants… it also includes ‘extensive utility accountability and transparency.’
“It’s got controversial stuff in there like Eminent domain for some utility companies and removes zoning control from county government,” said IL Senator Jason Barickman. “It’s a massive bill that’s been being negotiated for many, many months…it didn’t get done in the spring legislative cycle. Now supposedly Pritzker and (Don) Harmon have a deal. We are suppose to get briefed this morning on it because we are suppose to be voting on it early this week.”
Eminent domain is the power of a state, provincial, or national government to take private property for public use. It does not include the power to take and transfer ownership of private property from one property owner to another private property owner without a valid public purpose
Barickman said he has a strong inclination on how he is going to vote on this bill.
Pritzker’s bill calls for phasing out coal-fired power by 2030.
Darren Bailey, another Illinois Senator and Gubernatorial candidate, said in a Facebook video that they (Democrats) want to run power lines and across Illinois and to connect them to other states, this is called Eminent domain. This is done to gain access to other states’ energy.
“As a farmer, your front yard, they have the right to come in and run these power lines through your property without your approval,” said Bailey. “They want 100% Green energy for Illinois. It means the closing down of the cleanest co-operations in the world. They want the shut down of our nuclear plants.”
Bailey said if we close down coal, natural gas and nuclear plants that would mean there has to be energy gotten from somewhere.
“It’s going to be a long time before wind and solar is able to power anything remotely close to our needs right now,” said Bailey. “That’s why you are seeing blackouts in California and in Texas. If this happens on their timeline, it is going to be another reason for people to leave this state.”
Apparently Pritzker’s bill would end formula rates, which according to the bill will “spend ratepayer money with little oversight, meaning ComEd and Ameren, will no longer be able to dramatically increase their profits by loading up the rate base with little cost control.”
Pritzker’s 900-page proposal was released at the end of April with the goal of shifting Illinois to 100% carbon-free energy, including nuclear power, by 2050.
