Chambana Sun

In a May 27 news release, Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) called on Gov. Pritzker to reverse energy policies that he says will hurt Illinois residents.

"Last year my colleagues and I warned you that politicians in Illinois were planning for a New Green Deal that would hurt families and businesses," Halbrook said in the release. "Just months after the Clean Energy Jobs Act passed, our comments have unfortunately been proven true."

Halbrook said the new policies will bring higher energy costs.

"Central and Southern Illinoisans are facing hundreds of dollars in higher energy costs and potential power outages because of terrible policy decisions by Illinois Democrats who chose wind and solar power over reliable coal and natural gas plants," Halbrook said. "It is nonsensical and shameful considering we receive three-fourths of our energy from coal and natural gas in our region. And at a time when the world is facing grain shortages, it makes even less sense to cover productive Illinois farmland with solar panels from China."

In April, E&E News reported that the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) said clearing prices in its annual capacity auction surged to $236.66 per megawatt-day from $5 a year ago for the Midwest subregion. Capacity prices for MISO’s South region were $2.88 per MWd. This is a nearly fiftyfold jump in Midwest capacity prices.

Ameren is increasing prices as well. According to 25 News, as of June 1, Ameren customers using 1,000 kWh will pay $50 a month, or $600 more a year, for their utilities on the supply side. That charge would amount to $.115 per kWh. 25 News cites the war in Ukraine, higher natural gas prices, and inflation as reasons for the price hike. The station also cited "a supply shortage due to renewable energy sources not yet fully able to replace retired fossil fuel-fired power plants."