State moves toward renewable energy

SPRINGFIELD - Rep. Will Davis, a Hazel Crest Democrat, plans to introduce legislation in the next two weeks that would move Illinois toward 100 percent renewable energy.

"We want to make sure that the future of clean energy is clear; it's stable and it ensures equitable participation, and it lifts up all sectors of not only the industry, but all sectors of the state," Amy Heart, Midwest chair for Solar Energy Industry Association and policy director for Sunrun, said during a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 6.

David Lundy, spokesman for the Path to 100 Coalition, said the future legislation would make this happen by requiring greater private investment in renewable energy production from energy companies. This would be accomplished through the authority of the Illinois Power Agency, which develops electricity procurement plans for large investor-owned electric utilities Ameren, ComEd and MidAmerican.

In this way, investment would be ratepayer funded, costing the ratepayer "less than a couple bucks a month," Lundy said. It would not require state funding.

Currently, the Illinois Power Agency turns away about 90 percent of applicants for green energy projects due to a limited pool of available credits, Lundy said. But by expanding Illinois' Renewable Portfolio Standard, the planned legislation would increase the available pool of private grant funding to be disbursed by the Illinois Power Agency.