Illinois State Representative Dan Ugaste warned on April 17 that current state energy policies could result in increased electricity costs for residents, citing the planned relocation of a large natural gas-powered energy plant from Elwood to Texas. Ugaste said that regulations under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and deadlines for plant closures may lead to further early shutdowns of power facilities.
Ugaste said this situation should be a “major wake-up call” for lawmakers, urging them to reconsider the timelines set by CEJA. He stated, “This should serve as a major wake-up call for our state lawmakers, as CEJA regulations and closure deadlines are going to lead to more early plant closures and increased energy costs. We must reverse course on the deadlines.”
He emphasized that policy decisions have direct effects on Illinois residents. “What we do here has a real impact on people’s lives, and these unrealistic deadlines to move to other energy sources will lead to unintended consequences, which in this case means higher electric rates for Illinoisans,” Ugaste said.
Ugaste is a Republican who was elected in 2019 to represent Illinois’ 65th House District after replacing Steven Andersson according to Ballotpedia.
The debate over CEJA’s implementation continues as legislators consider potential changes or adjustments in response to concerns about affordability and reliability of electricity supply.
