State Rep. Mike Coffey Responds to Growing Concerns about Illinois’ Energy
Three State Agencies Warns of Electricity Shortages
Springfield, IL…A new study by three state agencies sounds the alarm about electricity shortages in the near future. The Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and Illinois Commerce Commission released a ‘Resource Adequacy Study’ in which they acknowledged that fossil fuel power plants may have to remain open to meet rising energy demands.
State Representative Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) has been sounding the alarm about the impacts that progressive energy policies would have on future of energy in Illinois. Coffey says Illinois must make it a priority to preserve reliable and affordable energy by using an all-of-the-above energy approach.
“Our state is facing an energy crisis of our own making,” said Coffey. “The most recent report from three state agencies is a clear sign that our state is not in a position to eliminate coal-fired power plants. The policies that Illinois Democrats continue to pass out of the Capitol not only cause our monthly bills to go up, but at some point there simply will not be enough energy produced to meet our demands.”
According to the state agencies’ report, electricity shortages will affect PJM and MISO regional transmission systems, which ultimately will impact ComEd and Ameren customers. The primary drivers of the warning are the power demands from data centers and the retirement of coal and natural gas plants. The report concluded that current energy policies disrupt Illinois’ ability to import power during critical times which is leading to credible risk of regional capacity shortfalls.
Coffey continued, “Illinois has the ability to be a powerhouse in generating energy, but liberal policies have everyone on alert about rising energy costs and reliability issues. It’s imperative that Democrat lawmakers roll-up their sleeves, take these warnings seriously, and come up with solutions that will protect our state’s energy and keep rates affordable.”
State Representative Mike Coffey has been an advocate for safe, clean, reliable Illinois’ energy and supports legislation that extends renewable energy goals, keeps coal-fired power plants open, and uses the all-of-the-above approach to ensure Illinois residents have affordable and reliable energy.
For more information contact Rep. Coffey’s office at 217-782-0053 or [email protected].
Representative Mike Coffey serves the constituents of Illinois’ 95th House District that includes parts of Sangamon County, including portions of the City of Springfield and Villages of Chatham and Rochester as well as parts of Macon and Christian Counties.
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