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Midcontinent Independent System Operator board members are
expected to approve nearly $10.5 billion in new transmission
investments. The grid operator estimates that these investments
will provide $37 billion to $69 billion in benefits to
ratepayers over the expected life of the projects.
State Sen. Christina Castro, D-Elgin, said MISO needs to get 34
solar and wind projects sitting in their queue up and running as
soon as possible.
“If Ameren customers ever find themselves in the dark, MISO’s
inaction is to blame,” Castro said. “They are asleep at the
switch.”
Advocates point out that MISO has known the transition from
fossil fuels to renewables has been coming since 2007, when
Illinois passed its first Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Earlier this year, MISO issued a “maximum generation alert,” an
advisory that this summer could require electric utilities to
request energy conservation or implement rolling blackouts and
power outages.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a green energy law last year that
requires coal-fired power plants in the state to close by 2045,
but some say the transition is going too quickly, leaving the
state without enough power and higher utility bills.
Ameren Illinois customers saw their average monthly bills rise
over 50% in July, following a 40% increase in natural gas bills
that began in March 2021.
Some of those coal plants are being converted. The installation
sites for new solar power and battery storage projects that were
mandated by a state law called the Climate and Equitable Jobs
Act, were unveiled. The Texas-based company Vistra will install
up to 68 megawatts of solar capacity, enough to power 10,000
homes, at six retired coal plants.
Five other coal plants, owned by Vistra and NRG Energy, will be
converted into battery projects.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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