Meier Votes Against Democrats’ Energy Bill

SPRINGFIELD, IL – In the waning hours of Lame Duck Session, HB 587 passed the Illinois House. This bill makes changes to energy infrastructure projects in Illinois and further supplements the billions of dollars the taxpayers of Illinois have already put into wind and solar energy.
Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) spoke out against this bill during debate on the House floor citing several concerns.
“I’m not against wind and solar energy, but it has to be fiscally responsible before we spend billions of taxpayer dollars on it,” said Rep. Meier. “In Southern Illinois, energy rates have already risen over 50 percent since the passing of CEJA [the Clean Energy Jobs Act]. Illinoisans are throwing their billfolds, purses, and checkbooks into the fire to keep warm. The last thing we need is for taxpayers to be on the hook for more renewable energy projects.”
There are currently no requirements for solar panels and wind turbines used to fulfil state mandates to be manufactured in Illinois or even the United States, and Meier pointed out that many are made in foreign countries.
Electric rates in Illinois have risen considerably across the state, and Rep. Meier is concerned that this bill will continue that trend.
Meier said of the Democrats’ energy policy, “In the battle of politics and physis, at the end of the day, physics always wins. This is a cliff that the Democrats are creating, and we are going to fall off.”