SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, more than
1,500 Illinoisans, including community leaders, elected officials,
nuclear plant employees and business leaders rallied in
Springfield to voice their support
for the Next Generation Energy Plan, legislation currently pending
before the Illinois General Assembly.
If passed this session, the bill will help drive Illinois' clean energy future while saving and
creating thousands of jobs and strengthening the state's economy.
By jumpstarting solar energy and preserving two at-risk nuclear
plants, the Next Generation Energy Plan will also help Illinois avoid a large increase in carbon
emissions and other pollution. Among the many benefits, the
legislation will:
- Grow Illinois' supply of solar
energy from less than 60 megawatts on the grid now to over 1,650
megawatts by 2030;
- Introduce a Zero Emission Standard that will make Illinois one of the first states to recognize
the zero-carbon benefits of nuclear power;
- Enhance the reliability and security of the power grid;
- Reduce the fixed customer charge, creating more equitable rates
and giving customers more control over their bills;
- Nearly double energy efficiency programs to create $4 billion in energy savings – the equivalent of
taking 18 million cars off the road; and
- Provide $1 billion of funding for
low income assistance.
"This comprehensive energy legislation is an all-of-the-above
approach, including the preservation of Illinois' at-risk nuclear plants, the Clinton
Power Station and the Quad Cities Generation Station," said
Bryan Hanson, President and Chief
Nuclear Officer for Exelon Nuclear. "The bill's economic and
environmental benefits for Illinois far outweigh the costs of inaction,
which is why we're urging Illinois
policymakers to pass this legislation now – before it's too
late."
The NGEP includes implementation of a zero emission standard
that would specifically target at-risk nuclear plants, making
Illinois one of the first states
to recognize the zero-carbon benefits of nuclear energy. It would
preserve more than $1.2 billion in
economic activity and 4,200 direct and indirect jobs associated
with Quad Cities and Clinton.
"Passing the Next Generation Energy Plan before the end of
session is critical for Illinois'
clean energy future, the state's economy and thousands of
Illinois families, which is why
there was such a huge turnout today," said State Senator Donne
Trotter. "I'm proud to sponsor this legislation to protect and
create thousands of new jobs, while preserving Illinois' low-carbon energy leadership and
strengthening the reliability of our power grid. The Next
Generation Energy Plan is truly a win-win approach."
Community and labor leaders from across Illinois were in attendance and echoed those
sentiments.
"The overwhelming show of support we see today from the labor
community, business leaders, environmentalists, elected officials
and everyday families illustrates just a fraction of the
Illinoisans that want to see this legislation passed by
May 31st," said
Michael Carrigan, President of the
Illinois AFL-CIO, who addressed the crowd in the state capitol
building.
"The livelihood of working families and the future of
Illinois' economy and environment
are at stake," added Dean Apple,
President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local
15. "Without action on the Next Generation Energy Plan,
Illinois risks falling behind and
losing jobs to other states. The state cannot afford to wait."
"We simply cannot afford to see Illinois' nuclear plants close," said
Tara Barney, Quad Cities Chamber of
Commerce President. "They support thousands of good-paying jobs for
highly-skilled workers in our community and generate millions of
dollars in annual tax revenue. The impact on our local and state
economy would be devastating and would set Illinois back as a leader in clean energy
production. We cannot afford a further delay on this
legislation."
The legislation is estimated to have a modest impact of
25 cents per month on the average
ComEd residential customer bill over the duration of the plan,
while providing for the economic, environmental and societal
impacts detailed above.
For more information, visit
www.NextGenerationEnergyPlan.com.
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), now including the Pepco
Holdings utilities, is the nation's leading competitive energy
provider, with 2015 revenues of approximately $34.5 billion. Headquartered in Chicago, Exelon does business in 48 states,
the District of Columbia and
Canada. Exelon is one of the
largest competitive U.S. power generators, with more than 32,700
megawatts of owned capacity comprising one of the nation's cleanest
and lowest-cost power generation fleets. The company's
Constellation business unit provides energy products and services
to approximately 2 million residential, public sector and business
customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100.
Exelon's six utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to
approximately 10 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania
through its Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power,
PECO and Pepco subsidiaries. Follow Exelon on Twitter
@Exelon.
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SOURCE Exelon Generation