The House and Senate were in Session Tuesday through Thursday of this week. Both Chambers have begun working group meetings with the Governor’s office in hopes of developing an agreement on the Governor’s proposed 2016 Budget.
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The House Renewable Energy and Sustainability Committee met this past Wednesday to take subject matter testimony on the societal benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The committee testimony was intended to be general in nature, and not based upon any specific legislative proposal.
The House Energy Committee met this past Wednesday to take subject matter testimony on the results of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator capacity auction for 2015. The auction resulted in capacity prices for Illinois that are significantly higher than the previous year, and significantly higher than other regions within MISO. MISO testified that Illinois’ deregulated market and increase in demand for capacity at the auction drove the increase in capacity pricing.
The House Energy Committee also took testimony on HB 3292 (Rep. Lawrence Walsh Jr., D- Joliet), the proposed Low Carbon Energy Standard. HB 3292 is an initiative of Exelon Generation, who provided testimony in support. The Attorney’s General Office provided testimony in opposition, as well as AARP and a group of large industrial users. The Committee indicated that they would continue to seek subject matter on the major energy issues being proposed this year.
The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee is currently scheduled to have a subject matter hearing next Wednesday to consider all the major energy issues that have been filed this year. The Committee is scheduled to take testimony on SB 1485 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park), which is an initiative of the environmental community to modify renewable energy, energy efficiency and emission standards in the State. The Committee will also take testimony on SB 1585 (Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago) which is the Senate bill for Exelon’s proposed Low Carbon Energy Standard. Finally the Committee is scheduled to hear testimony on SB 1879 (Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Chicago) which is ComEd’s proposed “Smart Plan for Illinois’ Energy Future”.
The House Energy Committee is also scheduled to meet next Wednesday to take testimony on HB 2607 (Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Buffalo Grove) which is identical to SB 1485, being considered in the Senate.
Next week, the House and Senate are in Session Tuesday through Friday. Thursday is the deadline in the House for moving Senate Bills out of Committee. Both chambers have a 3rd reading deadline of May 22nd.
J. Monk
P. Evans
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