Over 60 Organizations Voice Support for the Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Over 60 organizations from across Illinois and around the country signed an open letter to voice their support for the Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard (LCPS) (HB 3293/SB 1585), currently being considered by the Illinois General Assembly. Signatories of the letter (full text below) include the Chicago Urban League, Exelon, GE Hitachi, IBEW Local 15, Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Clean Energy Coalition, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Pipe Trades Association, Sargent & Lundy and United Scrap. Their support comes on the heels of a rally in the state capitol last week that drew nearly 600 Illinoisans who delivered a petition with over 10,000 signatures urging state lawmakers to enact the legislation.

"Illinois' nuclear facilities provide tremendous economic, reliability and environmental benefits to the state and the region," said John Grimes, vice president of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. "The Low Carbon Portfolio Standard is the only legislation that properly values these plants. We urge the General Assembly to vote yes on this important bill."

Illinois' six nuclear energy facilities generate nearly half of the state's electricity and 90 percent of Illinois' low-carbon electricity. However, three of these plants have been losing significant amounts of money each year and may soon close prematurely without legislative action. If these plants close early, it will cost the state an estimated $1.8 billion per year in economic activity, 8,000 jobs and up to $500 million per year in higher electric costs statewide, according to an Illinois state agency report.

Deanna Mershon, executive director of the Byron Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the local impact the plant closings may have on communities throughout Illinois.

"If the Illinois legislature fails to pass the Low Carbon Portfolio standard, communities like Byron will bear the brunt of these costs," Mershon said. "It will hurt our schools, community services, and our friends and families will be forced to make some tough decisions. The legislature needs to preserve these plants and help protect communities like Byron across the state."

Roderick Hawkins, vice president of external affairs for the Chicago Urban League, highlighted the importance of having a reliable supply of energy in Illinois. "When we need energy the most, especially during extreme weather, our homes and businesses are largely powered by nuclear energy," Hawkins said. "The grid operator for northern Illinois has said it won't be as reliable if the plants close. We can't ignore this issue any longer."

"Now is the time for the legislature to take action to preserve the state's low carbon energy leadership and the enormous economic and environmental benefits that come with it," said Joseph Dominguez, executive vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs and public policy at Exelon, which operates Illinois' nuclear facilities. "In the coming months, Exelon will need to make tough decisions about potential nuclear plant closures. That's why we are joining a broad group of community, business and labor leaders in urging the General Assembly to act now – because the decision to close nuclear plants cannot be simply reversed." 

The legislative session is scheduled to conclude on May 31. More information about the LCPS can be found at www.NuclearPowersIllinois.com.

May 13, 2015

The Honorable Bruce Rauner
Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

The Honorable John J. Cullerton
Senate President
327 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706

The Honorable Christine Radogno
Senate Minority Leader
309G Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706

The Honorable Michael J. Madigan
Speaker of the House of Representatives
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706

The Honorable Jim Durkin
House Minority Leader
316 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Rauner and Legislative Leaders:

Illinois' opportunity to secure a low-carbon energy future has arrived. The Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard (LCPS) (HB 3293/SB 1585) is a market-based solution that would preserve the state's existing low carbon energy sources (including nuclear power), incent more renewable energy like wind and solar, and advance Illinois' position as the nation's clean-air energy leader.

Currently, not all low-carbon sources of energy in Illinois are recognized for the clean air benefits they provide. In particular, Illinois' nuclear facilities are not currently allowed to participate in existing clean energy programs, despite providing 90 percent of our state's carbon-free power. The LCPS would correct this flaw in Illinois' energy policy.

Beginning in 2016, the LCPS would require ComEd and Ameren to obtain low carbon energy credits to match an amount equal to 70 percent of the electricity flowing on their distribution systems. It would make Illinois a national leader with the highest requirement of low carbon energy in the nation.

Supporting the LCPS, and therefore low carbon energy, is good for Illinois families and businesses, our economy and our environment. We urge Illinois' leaders to ensure nuclear power remains part of our state's energy future.

We, the undersigned, ask members of the Illinois General Assembly to vote YES on the LCPS.

Sincerely,

All Girls Transportation & Logistics, Inc.
American Heritage Protective Services
American Nuclear Society
Areva
Bailey Printing
Barnhart
Bell Fuels
Braidwood Chamber of Commerce
Braidwood Lions Club
Brieser Construction
Byron Chamber of Commerce
CB&I
CFM/VR-Tesco, LLC
Channahon Village Board
Chicago Urban League
Chocktaw-Kaul
City of Byron
City of Clinton              
City of Marseilles
City of Oregon
Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
Clinton Area YMCA  
Clinton School Board
D Construction
DeWitt County/Clinton Emergency Management
DeWitt County Development Council
DeWitt County Sherriff's Department
Exelon Corporation
Fish Habitat Forever
GE Hitachi    
HBK Engineering   
Hispanic American Construction Industry Association
IBEW Local 15
Illinois AFL-CIO
Illinois Clean Energy Coalition
Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Pipe Trades Association
INTREN
JC Anderson, Inc.       
KCI Engineering
KDM Engineering
LaSalle County Board
MacMunnis
Mead
M.J. Electric
MZI Group, Inc.
North American Young Generation in Nuclear
Nuclear Energy Institute
Nuclear Matters
Oregon Chamber of Commerce
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Primera Engineers
Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
Sargent & Lundy
Seneca High School
Stevenson and Associates
U.S. Women in Nuclear
United Scrap
Valley Construction
Village of Braceville
Village of Coal City
Village of Diamond
Village of Grand Ridge 
Westinghouse
Will County Center for Economic Development

SOURCE Byron Chamber of Commerce