Carbondale Reporter

In an Aug. 10 Facebook post, Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) announced sponsorship of a new energy package geared toward helping Illinois residents.

“I favor an all-of-the-above approach to providing energy to our citizens, but CEJA simply went too far too fast. The result has been a dramatic and devastating spike in the cost of energy for regular people, working families, seniors on fixed incomes and businesses of all sizes,” Windhorst said. “The legislation I’m sponsoring along with several of my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle is aimed at restoring coal and natural gas as integral parts of Illinois’ energy portfolio. We have a massive amount of these resources right under our feet. It makes no sense at all to abandon clean coal technology and to ship Illinois coal to other states where they burn it and we are forced to buy electricity from them in order to have sufficient supply. The result of the legislative package I have signed on to would be lower costs, a more stable electric grid, and the return of jobs in the energy sector using resources we have available right here at home.”

Windhorst said the legislative package would assist nuclear power plant operators and owners by streamlining the bureaucratic process and getting rid of red tape, and help Southern Illinois’ residents with spikes in costs.

According to a press release, House Bill 5780 would create a task force to “study the effect of state laws, including CEJA, on energy prices as well as grid reliability;” House Bill 5781 would eliminate the 2045 mandated closure of nuclear power plants in the state that was outlined in CEJA, and House Bill 5782 would get rid of requirements that makes it harder to bring nuclear power plants online.

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. His legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice and Judiciary - Criminal committees. He resides in Metropolis.