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The MISO vote approves the first phase of projects for the Long
Range Transmission Planning process.
The phase totals 18 projects and nearly $10.5 billion in new
transmission system investments expected to provide MISO
ratepayers between $37 and $69 billion in benefits.
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition applauded the measure but
still said MISO needed to "act faster" and said if Ameren homes
go dark, MISO's "inaction" will be to blame.
"They must move faster to approve these renewable energy
projects that will bring down prices and improve grid
reliability," the coalition said in a statement.
MISO had previously warned of energy reliability issues, even
going as far as issuing advisories on possible rolling
blackouts.
State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said that the change to
clean energy could be done without closing several coal-fired
power plants in southern Illinois.
"Everyone in the MISO grid is going to be affected by this,"
Bryant told The Center Square. "We could have saved the nuclear
plant without destroying coal and natural gas. We could have
moved forward on wind and solar without destroying coal and
natural gas."
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a green energy law last year that
requires coal-fired power plants in the state to close by 2045.
The portfolio approved on Monday estimates to power 1,825,366
homes and create 31,735 jobs in Illinois.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a
reporter and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a
producer for the Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan
University and Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south
suburbs of Chicago.
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