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Illinois lifts nuclear ban, but tightens grip on energy supply

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Illinois lifts nuclear ban, but tightens grip on energy supply



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.

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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.

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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.

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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.





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Produce Recall Issued In Parasite Outbreak Hitting IL

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Produce Recall Issued In Parasite Outbreak Hitting IL


A number of Taco Bell locations have posted signs announcing they are “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall,” according to Detroit-area news radio outlet WWJ.

Taco Bell told the Post it would keep monitoring the situation and follow authorities’ guidance.

Taco Bell Lettuce Linked To Growing MI Parasite Outbreak: FDA

“Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer,” the company told the Post. “While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.”

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In Michigan, where cases have been concentrated, media reports said notices were posted at some Detroit-area Taco Bell restaurants last week telling customers the chain was “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro-Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall.”





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Illinois GOP trails badly in midterm cash

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Illinois GOP trails badly in midterm cash


The Illinois Republican Party filed its quarterly campaign finance report on the July 15 deadline. The party reported having just $223K in the bank. The next day, the party sent a letter to the Illinois State Board of Elections saying they were “reconciling” their records after a leadership change, and then noted that their actual end balance was $101K higher than it had reported the day before.

But that bit of found money was basically the end of the “good news” for the GOP last week.

Republicans no longer have a pet billionaire. Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin have fled the state. The legions of wealthy business titans who once contributed and raised money have either retired to sunnier climes or passed away. Several prominent party members have publicly shunned labor unions and their hefty political war chests, although the state GOP legislative leaders have at least tried to rebuild ties to trade unions and even the Illinois Education Association. But the heavily gerrymandered legislative map combined with the current political climate means they’ll mostly receive scraps.

And, yes, the House Democrats are struggling this month with scandals, including a state representative who resigned under pressure and another who was indicted. I’m not trying to downplay that at all. But Democrats have the national political environment, the local infrastructure and tons of cash behind them. The Republicans have little to none of that.

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The GOP’s gubernatorial candidate, Darren Bailey, raised $1.3 million in the second quarter, which ended June 30. That sounds like a lot, but he spent almost all of that on direct mail fundraising costs. The huge expenditures do give him a prospect list for future fundraising, but he ended the quarter with a mere $128K in the bank. That was still a whole lot more than the rest of the statewide ticket.

Attorney General nominee Bob Fioretti, a perennial candidate, raised $31K, spent $39K and had $28K on hand at the end of the quarter along with almost $15K in recent debt. Secretary of State candidate Diane Harris raised $6K, spent a bit over $4K and had a paltry $1,816.42 in the bank. Treasurer candidate Max Solomon, who ran as a write-in during the primary because the party failed to recruit anyone, raised less than $3K, reported no spending and ended the quarter with less than $8K. Comptroller candidate Bryan Drew raised $30K and received $47K in in-kind contributions from a company owned, ironically, by independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett, spent less than $3K, ended with $54K and had $25K in debt from earlier this year.

Man, that’s just downright pathetic.

But I suppose it doesn’t really matter anyway unless we see a massive sea-change in national opinion in the coming months or the federal government finds a way to not certify certain election results. Regardless of where individual candidates are at this moment, they’ll have the money to compete. Unlike the Republicans, the Dems do have a pet billionaire (JB Pritzker) and, I assume eventually for most of them, organized labor.

The Republican legislative leaders have tried to scrape and claw as much as they can, but they’re vastly outgunned. Senate Republican Leader John Curran raised just $75K in the second quarter. He spent $71K and reported having a bit more than $3 million in the bank. His caucus committee reported having $160K in the bank.

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Leader Curran has three Republican-held districts to defend in the Chicago media market that have all trended Democratic in the last three cycles. Depending how bad things get, he could be defending a couple, two or three more.

The Senate Democrats have a ton of money to do whatever they want. Senate President Don Harmon has about $20 million in his personal campaign account and $1.7 million in his caucus account.

Over in the House, Republican Leader Tony McCombie has at least four Democratic-trending or swingy districts to defend and just $1.3 million in her personal campaign account and another $363K in her caucus account so far.

In contrast, House Speaker Chris Welch had $11.4 million in his personal account and $1.2 million in his caucus account. Like Senate President Harmon, he has more than enough money already, but more is never enough when there’s so much out there, so those numbers will likely rise by November.

Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.

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Hillsboro grad, Springfield golfer Alex Eickhoff 2nd at state amateur

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Hillsboro grad, Springfield golfer Alex Eickhoff 2nd at state amateur


BLOOMINGTON — Springfield’s Alex Eickhoff nearly had a magical Thursday as he tied for second place in the 95th annual Illinois State Amateur Championship at Crestwicke Country Club.  

Eickhoff, a 2020 Hillsboro High School graduate and former standout on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s men’s golf team, shot a 4-under-par 68 in Thursday’s third round and followed that with an even-par 71 to finish the three-day, four-round event 1-over 285. He tied for second with Bloomington’s Logan Stauffer.  

Eickhoff briefly took the lead through nine holes of his fourth round when he sat at 1-under par. Chicago’s Charlie Kulwin finished both of Thursday’s rounds under par and finished 2-under 282. He was the lone golfer to finish under par for the tournament.

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Eickhoff was The State Journal-Register’s Small School Boys Golfer of the year twice in his high school career: once as a freshman in 2016-17 and again as a senior in 2019-20. After high school, he golfed for the University of Minnesota for two years before transferring to SIUE.  

He began the tournament with a 3-over 74 on Tuesday and shaved off a stroke Wednesday with a 2-over 73. He closed out the event with an even-par 71 in Thursday’s final round.

Other area golfers who made the cut were Springfield’s Charles Hoogland (7-over 291, tied for 20th) and Jacksonville’s Brady Kaufmann (8-over 292, 25th). 

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The last golfer from The State Journal-Register’s coverage area to win the Illinois State Amateur was Jay Davis. Davis, a Jacksonville Routt graduate, won the 1991 and ‘92 tournaments. 

Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.





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