|
In the southside of Chicago Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and
others broke ground on the PsiQuantum facility at the Illinois
Quantum and Microelectronics Park.
“Quantum has the potential to help solve some of humanity's
greatest challenges in national security, artificial
intelligence, pharmaceuticals, energy, finance, and beyond,”
Pritzker said.
Pritzker’s office touts $700 million of taxpayer investment in
the park and in supporting other quantum projects, a move the
office said “cemented Illinois’ leadership nationally, attracted
federal research dollars and laid the foundation” for Tuesday’s
groundbreaking.
Quantum, along with AI, data centers and electric vehicles are
expected to create more demand for Illinois energy at a time of
increased energy demand and costs.
During a more than four hour virtual hearing Thursday, the
Illinois Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee heard an
amendment to a sweeping energy bill that focuses on renewables.
State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, said wind, solar and battery
storage isn’t going to cut it.
“The reality of what we're facing in the future, with the need
to put power on quickly and the cheapest way, is not going to
fit within what you're telling us,” Rezin said.
Rezin warned the sweeping measures in the latest amendment to
Senate Bill 25 will only increase consumer costs.
“The caps are off, which allows you to build everything out, the
wind and the solar and the battery, which is expensive. So the
rates are going to go up,” Rezin said.
Rates have already gone up. According to the Citizens Utility
Board, ComEd’s new electricity price has fallen a bit since the
summer, but it is still about 47% higher than it was last
October. While Ameren’s price dropped more than 30%, CUB urged
all utility customers to review their bills.
Illinois Farm Bureau's Bill Bodine said they oppose the proposed
amendment for reasons including lack of local control for siting
battery storage facilities.
“There's a few, beneficial changes we think are included in the
bill, but unfortunately, it creates too many concerns, and we do
have to oppose it,” he said.
Legislators return to Springfield for fall veto session
beginning Oct. 14.
|
|
