Bill Text: IL SR1195 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the Illinois Commerce Commission to prepare a report examining the impact on residential, commercial, and industrial electric rates from the closure of Illinois' Braidwood, Byron, Dresden, and LaSalle nuclear power plants prior to the expiration of their respective licenses. Further urges the Illinois Power Agency to prepare a report showing how the closure of the Braidwood, Byron, Dresden, and LaSalle nuclear power plants prior to the expiration of their respective licenses will affect reliability and capacity for the Midwest region. Further urges the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to prepare a report examining the carbon and air pollution impacts of the closure of the Braidwood, Byron, Dresden, and LaSalle nuclear plants prior to the expiration of their respective licenses.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2021-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SR1195 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR1195-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Reliable, clean, and affordable electricity is
vital to Illinois for economic growth, jobs, and the overall
interests of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Illinois' nuclear power plants provide over half
of the State's total electricity generation and are licensed to
generate affordable electricity for Illinois families and
businesses into the future; and
WHEREAS, Illinois had the twentieth lowest average price of
electricity across all sectors in 2019, and low-cost energy
resources give the State a significant advantage for attracting
and retaining businesses of all kinds and provide reliable
electricity to Illinois families; and
WHEREAS, Nuclear plants help Illinois avoid 45 million
metric tons of carbon emissions each year, equivalent to almost
10 million cars or 70% of current State carbon emissions; and
WHEREAS, Within Illinois, six nuclear plants comprise
approximately 54% of the State's generation and 29% of its
generating capacity; and
WHEREAS, Illinois' nuclear plants account for $149 million

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in estimated annual State tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, Industry analysts and consultants, academic
analyses and studies, and market publications have reached
various conclusions regarding the economic viability of the
Braidwood, Byron, Dresden, and LaSalle nuclear power plants;
the shutdown of one or more of these valuable assets prior to
its license expiration will most likely cause economic, social,
and environmental harm to Illinois families and businesses; and
WHEREAS, Closing even a few nuclear power plants could make
achieving State and national carbon reduction goals difficult
or impossible; and
WHEREAS, It is of the highest importance that the State of
Illinois preserve its existing clean energy resources as a
means of achieving its clean energy goals, keeping energy costs
stable and reliable, and preserving jobs; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois
Commerce Commission to prepare a report examining the impact on
residential, commercial, and industrial electric rates from
the closure of Illinois' Braidwood, Byron, Dresden, and LaSalle
nuclear power plants prior to the expiration of their
respective licenses; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Power Agency to prepare
a report showing how the closure of the Braidwood, Byron,
Dresden, and LaSalle nuclear power plants prior to the
expiration of their respective licenses will affect
reliability and capacity for the Midwest region; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency to prepare a report examining the carbon and
air pollution impacts of the closure of the Braidwood, Byron,
Dresden, and LaSalle nuclear plants prior to the expiration of
their respective licenses; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we request the findings in those reports to
include potential market-based solutions to address any
negative impacts on residential, commercial, and industrial
electric rates, the negative affect on reliability and capacity
for the Midwest region, and the negative environmental impacts
from the closure of Illinois' nuclear power plants prior to the
expiration of their respective licenses, including an
examination of a Fixed Resource Requirement that prioritizes
carbon-free generators; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we request the findings in those reports to
include multiple scenarios, wherein one, two, three, and four

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of these nuclear power plants close prior to the expiration of
their respective licenses; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we request the findings from those reports
to be presented to the General Assembly and the Governor before
September 1, 2020 for consideration and appropriate action; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to Governor JB Pritzker, Director of the Illinois
Power Agency Anthony Star, Director of the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency John Kim, and Chairman of the
Illinois Commerce Commission Carrie Zalewski.