JOBS GROUP, EXELON IN ILLINOIS NEW ENERGY DUEL

Coalition urges Illinois to boost energy goals

Julie Wernau, February 4, 2015 Chicago Tribune

The Clean Jobs Coalition of labor, business, environmental, and ratepayer advocacy groups and headed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pushing Illinois legislators to increase the state’s 25% renewables mandate to 35% by 2030 and up the state’s targeted 2025 electricity consumption reduction from 13% to 20%.Chicago-based Exelon, not part of the coalition, has called for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy and is pushing state legislators to include nuclear power in the revised mandate so it will not be forced to shutter three of its six Illinois nuclear facilities. Nuclear power is increasingly unable to compete in the electricity market with low cost natural gas generation and fuel-free wind generation. Exelon argues that meeting the Clean Power Plan’s goal of a 30% reduction of greenhouse gases from 2005 levels by 2030 would be challenging for Illinois without nuclear generation but members of Mayor Emanuel’s coalition say emissions can be cut with ramped up energy efficiency and new renewables. click here for more

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