Will County Gazette

While there is much cheering from supporters who pushed through the controversial Future Energy Jobs Bill at lightning speed in the state House and Senate this month, and won Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature last week, the gnashing of teeth by dissenters may drown out the celebration.

One camp has been cheering on the legislation as a job-saving, renewable-energy bill, while the other side has characterized it as a bailout for Exelon, which threatened to close its nuclear plants in Clinton and Cordova and put over 4,000 people out of work because the facilities aren’t making money. This has not affected Exelon’s bottom line, however, as the company made over $2 billion in profit last year.

This has been a volatile piece of legislation, with many modifications over the past two years, including last-minute changes on Dec. 1, when the bill passed the state House (63-38) and Senate (32-18) on the same day. Many of those who voted in favor of the bill, including state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and state Rep. David Welter (R-Morris), did so because of the large number of nuclear plant employees in their district.

State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) voiced strong objections to the bill on the house floor, and continues to do.

“I don't believe there was enough time given to reviewing the bill and analyzing the math,” Batinick said. "The more salient point is the amount of energy used by manufacturers. Many depend on low-priced electricity. I'm concerned that some Illinois jobs may now be at risk.”

One of the most important steps Illinois can take to counter the negative effects of the bill is to develop a more job-friendly environment, Batinick said.

“We need to work to reduce costs, like workers' compensation and property taxes, among other things.”

Batinick’s constituents have been almost silent on the Exelon controversy, which he attributes to the scarce amount of time given to debating the bill. In the last hours of the veto session, numerous changes were made, with amendments ranging from one page to 60. “Unfortunately, most legislators don't control the process,” Batinick said. “If a bill is rushed to a vote and put in front of them, they are forced to make a decision. It's not the best way of doing things, but it is the process we have.”

Many eyes around the state, including those of Chicagoans turned to Springfield when the bill was in the pipeline, and finally, on the governor’s desk. Using what they describe as an industry standard modeling tool, Crain’s Chicago Business theorized in a recent article that passage of the bill will cost the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools and CTA a combined total of more than $10 million annually.

Some Illinoisans, including Batinick, are appalled that the General Assembly would make the Exelon bill a priority while putting the state budget, struggling social service agencies and pensions on the back burner.

“I just hope we give as much effort toward balancing the budget as we did toward this bill,” Batinick said.