Macon Reporter

In a May 27 news release, Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) blasted Gov. Pritzker and Democratic lawmakers for the energy crisis.

"We are facing an immediate manmade crisis as politicians destroy Illinois' robust energy market and unnecessarily endanger our once-reliable and clean and low-cost power," Caulkins said. "I sat through hours of alarming committee hearings today. Here's what is obvious. Democrats knew the passage of Clean Energy Jobs Act CEJA would result in increased costs and unreliable power. At this hearing back in April 2021, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association said that if the 'Clean Energy Jobs Act' passed, they would not know how Illinois energy needs would be met. This is a manmade crisis by politicians focused on ideological goals of unreliable renewable energy at the expense of real solutions."

He says the high price of energy is the responsibility of the governor.

"What was also obvious from the testimony was a total lack of planning and foresight by multiple bureaucracies that are supposed to work together in ensuring we have the energy we need," Caulkins said. "Make no mistake, this problem is decades in the making but with a stroke of a pen, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois EPA could change our regulations today to get our peaker plants up and operating and solve this problem immediately. There is no reason average homeowners should be faced with over $600 in higher costs this year or power outages. Our neighbor, Indiana is allowing gas plants to be built to fill in their energy gap while Illinois sends a different message to natural gas producers. My colleagues and I warned you last year what would happen. I will continue to fight for cost-effective reliable energy in Illinois."

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 about $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. The news site cites the war in Ukraine, higher natural gas prices, and inflation as contributing factors. The station also blames a supply shortage due to renewable energy sources not yet fully able to replace retired fossil fuel-fired power plants.