South Central Reporter

In an Aug. 10 news release, Rep. Paul Jacobs spoke out on the Republicans' new energy package aimed at making changes to the Clean Energy Jobs Act.

“Our warnings about blackouts and brownouts and the threat to the grid by arbitrarily imposing closure dates on our coal-fired power and natural gas power plants fell on deaf ears, and Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker signed off on the legislation with no regard for the impact it would have on Southern Illinois,” Jacobs said in the release.

Jacobs signed on to a comprehensive package of legislation centered on energy, the release stated. The package would aid nuclear power plant operators and owners by simplifying the bureaucratic process and help Southern Illinois' residents with potential surges in expenses for nuclear power.

House Bill 5780 would start up a task force to "study the effect of state laws, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, on energy prices as well as grid reliability," according to the release. House Bill 5781 would halt the 2045 mandated closure of nuclear power plants in the state and House Bill 5782 would remove red tape that makes it tougher to make nuclear power plants operational.

Jacobs was elected to the Illinois House in 2020, according to the release. His legislative experience includes serving on the Tourism and Higher Education committees. Jacobs is a state representative who resides in Pomona, according to the Illinois House.