East Central Reporter

Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham) talked about the increase in the prices of natural gas and coal  during a May 26 news conference.

"Why the natural gas prices are increasing and why the coal cost prices are increasing is because the policies that they've put in place have made it harder, almost impossible in a lot of these situations, to get those materials that we need and without that, we're in no way shape or form in any situation where our renewables are going to be able to come in and cover down on that," Wilhour said. "So that's what we're advocating for here is that common sense. We need to start putting consumers first. They talk about equity and climate justice and it’s all worthless if it's decoupled from opportunity. When you raise the energy cost on manufacturers and people that are employing working-class people, you're going to have a heck of a lot less opportunity in Illinois."

Ever since the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act or CEJA, ComEd has been attempting to implement its energy efficiency program expansion, according to WSILTV. If approved, ComEd will add approximately 30 cents to the average customer's monthly bill.

"CEJA is widely recognized throughout Illinois and beyond as ambitious clean energy legislation, and the ComEd energy efficiency programs that it supports will contribute significantly to reduce carbon emissions," said Stacey Paradis, executive director of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Association. "In Illinois, energy efficiency is a key component to achieving climate targets while reducing household costs, decreasing emissions and improving indoor air quality and resiliency."

There are still many who do not support CEJA. Including manufacturers, businesses and other agencies. "It guts our state's clean energy goals, and it exempts large fossil fuel plans from our clean air and climate protections," JC Kibbey with Natural Resources Defense Council said, according to WIFR. "All these would be on top of the many compromises that industrial users already received in the course of negotiating this bill."