Published on May 14, 2025 9:01 am
Last Updated on May 14, 2025 9:01 am
(ST. REP. BRAD HALBROOK)
Local State Representative Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville is a member of the Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee. Republican Committee members and Republican members of the House Public Utilities Committee held a press conference in Springfield on Tuesday. The legislators said a summer energy cost crisis is approaching and offered solutions to expand energy production capacity.
A recent MISO capacity auction returned a $666.50 per megawatt day price across all zones in the summer. The same price one year ago was $30.
Halbrook says the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act CO2 emissions caps are largely to blame for capacity shortages and energy price spikes. He likened Illinois’ situation to the country of Spain’s energy emergency.
“Last week, I spoke on the House floor about the energy crisis unfolding in Spain—and the warnings it carries for us here in Illinois. Spain’s embrace of extreme climate policies and premature base load closures led to the collapse of its electrical grid. Elevators stopped mid-floor, businesses shut down, and people died. This is what happens when you ignore energy fundamentals in the name of ideology,” Halbrook said. “We’re facing increasing costs, decreasing reliability, and growing dependence on imported energy. This is energy we used to generate ourselves here in Illinois. CEJA has led to the premature closure of base-load coal and natural gas plants and the loss of good-paying jobs and reliable local energy.”
The legislators have five pieces of legislation that they say will roll back CEJA provisions.
