South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham) has no shortage of reasons why he is opposed to the clean energy bill recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“There is so much wrong with this ‘Green New Deal’ energy bill that will allow a private company to seize private property under 'eminent domain' and drive even more jobs out of Illinois,” Wilhour posted on Facebook.

At the signing ceremony, Pritzker pointed out the measure makes Illinois the only Midwestern state in the country requiring 100% carbon-free energy by the year 2045.

Fellow Republican lawmaker Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) doesn’t seem impressed.

“I know some folks will disagree, but at the end of the day, my vote was to protect the investment we have made in Springfield’s publicly-owned utility along with other municipalities and non-profit co-ops which have invested in grid reliability, as well as a vote which questions a $700 billion taxpayer-funded bailout for a huge private utility company that will come with a rate increase for everyone who pays a utility bill in Illinois,” he said in a Facebook post.

In addition to the earmark to Exelon to keep its Byron and Morris nuclear plants in operation, SB 2408 also establishes a $4,000 electric vehicle credit for all Illinoisans and an up-to 80% rebate for building a charging station.