Governor Pritzker signed a much-debated energy bill into law on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.
The bill, signed into law as P.A. 102-0662 and linked here, received final legislative approval by the General Assembly following Senate passage on September 13. The bill had previously passed the House on September 9.
The legislation is the product of an agreement between environmental groups, labor organizations and other stakeholders.
The new law seeks to decarbonize the Illinois energy sector by closing private coal plants by 2030. Under the bill, the policy of the State would be to move toward 100% clean energy by 2050.
Municipally-owned coal plants must be 100% carbon-free by December 31, 2045. The Prairie State Energy Campus in the Metro East and Springfield’s CWLP coal plants must reduce 45% of the carbon emissions by January 1, 2035.
All private natural gas-fired plants must be closed by 2045. Natural gas-fired plants owned by municipalities must be closed by 2045 unless converted to green hydrogen or similar technology.
The proposal includes mitigation provisions to offset impacts of closing fossil fuel plants.
Per the legislation, Exelon will receive a $694 million bailout over five years to keep the nuclear fleet running.
ISACo did not take a position on the bill.
A more comprehensive summary of the provisions within the new law is available via this link.