Sangamon Sun

State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) wants his constituents to know he opposes the clean energy bill Gov. J.B. Pritzker just signed into law.

“The energy bill which passed the House last night threatens the financial stability and strong reliability of Springfield’s taxpayer-owned, non-profit energy producer City, Water, Light and Power,” Butler posted on Facebook. "I also understand that reliable baseload energy is vitally important to my town and the district I represent. Shutting down CWLP’s Dolman 4 plant will reduce reliability while expanding our need to important energy from states which utilize coal plants much more than we do.”

When signing Senate Bill 2408 into law, Gov. J.B. Pritzker pointed out that Illinois is now the only Midwestern state in the country requiring 100% carbon-free energy by the year 2045.

Butler doesn’t seem impressed.

“I know some folks will disagree, but at the end of the day, my vote was to protect the investment we have made in Springfield’s publicly-owned utility along with other municipalities and non-profit co-ops which have invested in grid reliability, as well as a vote which questions a $700 billion taxpayer-funded bailout for a huge private utility company that will come with a rate increase for everyone who pays a utility bill in Illinois.”

In addition to language earmarking the investment in Exelon to keep its Byron and Morris nuclear plants in operation, SB 2408 also establishes a $4,000 electric vehicle credit for all Illinoisans and an up-to 80% rebate for building a charging station.