Lawmakers pass a bill to end the ban on large nuclear plants but include plans on expanding state control over energy.

Illinois lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 25, a sweeping energy bill that ends the state’s 40-year moratorium on large-scale nuclear plants, but also extends state control over how energy is produced and managed.

This measure also adds cost increases for consumers including $7 billion for battery storage projects beginning in 2030 according to the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.

The proposal, set to be signed into law on Nov. 6 by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, introduces new layers of bureaucracy that threaten to increase energy prices and undercut the benefits of nuclear expansion.

While lifting its nuclear ban is a positive step towards competitiveness and reliability, new state mandates risk driving up costs for residents and businesses and slowing innovation.

Positive developments

Ending Illinois’ decades-long nuclear ban is a much-needed step toward energy independence and affordability. The new law would allow construction of reactors larger than 300 megawatts, expanding on the state’s elimination of a ban on smaller reactors in 2023.

Illinois already gets 54% of its electricity from six nuclear power plants and 11 reactors, making it one of the most nuclear reliant states in the nation. With a spike in interest in nuclear energy in recent years with the development of AI and quantum computing, lifting its moratorium positions Illinois to remain a leader in reliable, zero-emission power, while adding a necessary foundation for economic growth because many industries will see their energy needs increase in the coming years.

The bill also takes steps to streamline permitting processes and curb local obstruction. Now counties have 60 days to approve or deny energy-storage permits. If a consensus is not reached, the permit is automatically approved. It also set limits on local municipalities to demand property-value guarantees, impose extended approval timelines, excessive fees or set overly strict environmental or safety rules.

Concerns

Despite these positive steps, the proposal also expands bureaucracy and regulation that risk higher costs and slower innovation.

The bill expands state control of energy by directing the Illinois Commerce Commission to oversee long-term energy planning through new Integrated Resource Plans. Utility companies must project energy demand 5 to 20 years out and include detailed modeling on emissions, affordability, equity, and grid reliability. The Commission has some power to revise or reject plans to meet demands. Utilities can recover IRP related costs by excluding them from rate-cap calculations, potentially increasing short-term rates. This will add layers of regulations for utility companies to navigate.

The legislation also creates numerous programs and departments that will require either budgetary allocations from the state or costs on companies or consumers, or some combination thereof, including:

• The Thermal Energy Network Pilot Program: Administers $20 million for thermal network projects.
• Geothermal Homes and Businesses Program: Allocates $10 million per year in credits for installation of new geothermal heating and cooling systems.
• Powering Up Illinois: mandates faster utility connections for EV infrastructure and establishes performance standards.
• Energy Reliability Corporation of Illinois: This entity will study the feasibility of state-specific independent System Operator to manage Illinois’ electric grid.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association estimates added costs from the bill could mean “a small food processor using 1,400kW of energy will see a monthly rate increase of $1,466 in the first year, which will grow to an increase of $12,084 in 2045 – a $144,000 annual increase. A large auto manufacturer using 10,100kW will see a first-year monthly rate increase of $11,361, which rises to a monthly increase of $87,276 per month in 2045 – a hike of $1,047,312 each year.”

Overall, these initiatives can potentially add further regulatory burdens and introduce new fiscal costs at a time when Illinois already faces high tax burdens and recurring budget deficits. Overly strict rules can undercut Illinois’ goal of cheap and efficient energy by limiting production and adding costs which would be passed on to ratepayers.

While lifting the nuclear moratorium is a win for reliability and innovation, higher state control and added regulations risk undoing those gains. Illinois should embrace policies that make energy cheaper, cleaner and more dependable through competition and regulatory restraint, not deeper political control.

Nuclear power can strengthen Illinois’ economy, but only if Springfield learns to get out of its way.

SPRINGFIELD — State lawmakers were still trying to settle on a $1.5 billion funding package to prop up public transit on the final day of the fall veto session late Thursday.

It was unclear if lawmakers would agree on a tax package to stave off a $200 million-plus fiscal cliff next year that would likely result in major cuts to bus and rail service at the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.

The latest funding package proposed by House Democrats late Thursday included:

• Redirecting the state’s sales tax on motor fuel to transit operations, collecting $860 million a year.
• Dedicating all of the interest on the state’s $8 billion road fund to transit, collecting nearly $200 million a year.
• Authorizing the Regional Transit Authority to increase its Chicago area sales tax by 0.25%.
• No fare increases on public transit for the first year after the bill’s passage.
• Increasing tolls by 45 cents for passenger cars, and 30% for other vehicles, to raise up to $1 billion for the Illinois Tollway.

The new bill removed earlier proposals — shot down by Gov. JB Pritzker and others — to introduce a 7% tax on streaming services like Netflix, additional fees on tickets to large concerts, sporting events and other performances. The amended bill also removed a proposed and unprecedented “billionaire tax” on unrealized capital gains for the ultra-wealthy.

“We all understand how important it is to fund transit throughout the state of Illinois, and so we’re going to attempt to try to get it done ASAP,” said Pritzker, who earlier this year said he was against any proposal that included additional “broad-based” income or sales taxes that would be felt by residents statewide.

But he didn’t slam the door on a regional sales tax hike in Cook County and the collar counties, as called for in the bill filed earlier this week by the House’s top transit negotiators, Chicago state Reps. Eva-Dina Delgado and Kam Buckner. It was one of the only tax proposals to stay in the amended bill.

Delgado called the new transit funding mechanisms “a way we can avoid raising significant taxes on folks.” But some downstate representatives said the amended bill took them by surprise, that it doesn’t allocate enough money outside of the Chicago area, and that the bill should be held for another day.

House Democrats were largely opposed to a bill that passed the state Senate in May, which aimed to raise $1.5 billion yearly through a $1.50 package delivery fee, a higher rideshare tax and an expanded real estate transfer tax.

Transit and labor leaders just want lawmakers to settle on a package to avert major budget cuts that would hit midway through next year and result in layoffs and loss of CTA bus and rail service. Lawmakers on both sides had already mostly agreed on revamped governance under an empowered Northern Illinois Transit Authority.

If lawmakers punt on transit funding, Pritzker didn’t rule out calling a special legislative session to finally resolve the looming crisis. Otherwise, lawmakers aren’t expected back in Springfield till January.

Lawmakers have been trying to sort out transit funding for over three years, ever since it became apparent that the transit agencies would face major service cuts to balance the books when federal COVID-19 grants run dry. The transit agencies have been struggling with lower ridership that hasn’t recovered post-pandemic.

The transit agencies recently lowered their funding gap in 2026 down to $200 million, down from an estimated $700 million, thanks to new online sales tax revenue and an expected 10% fare increase in February. Transit agencies say the budget deficit would rise to nearly $800 million in 2027 without more funding from the state.

In other late session action, lawmakers were pressing for legislation intended to curb federal immigration authorities from carrying out deportations in or near hospitals, public universities, day cares or courthouses. A bill sponsored by state Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, would also allow residents to sue federal immigration who violate their constitutional rights.

Harmon acknowledged the bill, if passed, would likely face legal challenges, “but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do something, and I’m damn well willing to try.”

State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, said the bill was about “restoring trust, protecting our neighbors, defending our rights, and reminding the world that in Illinois, we do not let fear win.

“We meet violence with courage. We meet hate with law, and we meet intimidation with justice,” she said. “This bill is a statement on behalf of the Legislature to say that what ICE is doing is unacceptable. It’s unlawful.”

The suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the federal government shutdown could impact nearly 1.9 million Illinois residents, according to a community announcement.

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) is working to ensure consumers are prepared for the planned suspension, which is set to begin at midnight on Nov. 1. The suspension was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. It means that SNAP recipients will not receive new deposits unless Congress reaches an agreement to end the shutdown. However, recipients will still be able to use any remaining benefits from October.

The Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program will not be affected, and recipients can continue to redeem their benefits as usual.

Retailers are expecting confusion at check-out counters and are coordinating closely with Gov. JB Pritzker’s office, the Illinois Department of Human Services and organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository to share important information and updates, according to the announcement.

IRMA has compiled resources for SNAP recipients and retailers, including how to locate local meal programs and food distribution centers, on its website.

This story was created by reporter Abreanna Blose, ablose@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.