SPRINGFIELD, IL - State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) cast a resounding NO vote on legislation that is guaranteed to increase energy bills for electricity consumers in southern Illinois during the final week of Veto Session.

Severin, who serves as the Illinois House Republican Spokesman on the House Energy & Environment Committee, raised several concerns over SB 25 on Wednesday night on behalf of Illinoisans who have been rocked by massive spikes in electricity bills this past summer.

"How much more do Democrats think working people, families, and businesses can afford?" Severin asked. "The price tag for the Green New Deal scam, or dream, or nightmare, is out of control. We need to reverse the policies that have caused these disastrous price spikes. Doubling down on these proven-to-be-failed policies will only result in more financial pain and more people and businesses, and jobs leaving Illinois."

SB 25, as amended, is legislation that banks on battery storage for energy capacity concerns. Rep. Severin voted against the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) back in 2021. That law, signed by Gov. Pritzker, set deadlines for the closure of fossil fuel (natural gas and coal-fired) power plants. Those plants handle peak power demand and help keep costs low for energy consumers during extreme hot and cold temperatures. Since CEJA's implementation, several coal-fired power plants have shut down, causing Illinois to have to buy power to supply electricity demand from the MISO grid, which is fueled by states that burn coal. The energy supplied to Illinois comes at much higher rates.

"Illinois, especially Southern Illinois, used to be the energy-producing capital of the Midwest," Severin said. "Now, we're buying power from other states that are burning coal at much higher rates than if we had just kept our coal-fired power plants open. Another point is this - coal jobs are good-paying, private-sector union jobs. The policies that the Illinois Democratic Party and national Democrats have put in place have caused job losses, extreme spikes in energy prices, and less reliability for our electrical grid. The Green New Deal is a complete and total failure. Tonight, Illinois Democrats doubled down on their failed, unworkable, and unaffordable energy policies. I VOTED NO."

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