ILLINOIS TO BECOME LEADER IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY - PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
For More Information:
Rebecca Stanfield, Environment Illinois, 312-291-0696
Barry Matchett, Environmental Law & Policy Center, 312-795-3702
Electricity Rate Deal Makes Illinois National Leader in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
State’s First Clean Energy Standards Target Global Warming Pollution
Today, as Illinois lawmakers unveiled a long-awaited electricity rate bill, provisions in the legislation also make the state a national leader in standards for electricity created by renewable sources such as wind power, biomass and solar power. The bill also requires energy efficiency programs that will effectively stop the growth of electric use in the state. Each provision is among the strongest in the country, and together they will substantially reduce global warming emissions from electricity generation in Illinois.
“Energy efficiency not only provides electric bill relief for Illinois customers, but as the bill savings compound, our environment gets cleaner and cleaner,” said Rebecca Stanfield, director of Environment Illinois. “Combined with the state’s first renewable energy standard, this bill represents a major step toward a smarter, cleaner energy future.”
The bill requires that a quarter of the power procured for Illinois customers will be generated from clean, renewable energy by 2025. Illinois becomes the 22nd state to have goals for energy efficiency, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Only two states, Maine and Minnesota, have higher goals. The energy efficiency program ramps up to a target of reducing the load by 2% a year by requiring utilities to provide customers with assistance to reduce their energy needs through more efficient appliances, weatherizing their homes and businesses and other measures.
The Illinois Senate unanimously passed these renewable energy and efficiency provisions earlier this session as the Affordable, Clean Energy Standards Act (S.B. 1184), championed by State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).
“We are very grateful to Senator Harmon for tirelessly working to advance the cause of clean energy, and to Attorney General Madigan, Senate President Jones and Speaker Madigan for supporting clean energy during the rate negotiations” said Jonathan Goldman, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “It’s long past time that we embraced our home-grown clean energy resources to build a 21st century electric system for Illinois.”
posted by prime3end to politics at 10:11 A.M. EST
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From a Jul 5, 2007 story about Texas:
"The Permian Basin is one of four sites - two in Texas and two in Illinois - that are finalists for the $1.5 billion project headed by the U.S. Department of Energy and a consortium of 10 energy companies from the United States, China and Australia."
"The plant, billed as a prototype coal-fueled power plant that produces almost no pollutants, would store carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping "greenhouse" gas, underground. Possible locations are Mattoon and Tuscola, in eastern Illinois, and Odessa and Jewett, in Texas. A site is expected to be chosen in September."
More from this news story about Texas:
"[A] University of Tennessee study projected that Texas would lead the nation in production of renewable energy by 2025, creating more than 173,000 jobs and adding about $22.8 billion annually to the state's economy."
"The report was commissioned by the National 25x'25 Alliance, a group of organizations and individuals seeking to have 25 percent of the nation's energy come from renewable sources by 2025. Nationally by that year, the renewable energy effort was forecast to have an annual economic effect of $700 billion and create 5.1 million jobs."
"Here's a look at some energy projects - proposed, under way or already in place - that many believe will revitalize West Texas."
The usual crap is mentioned like wind and ethanol plants, but the story also mentions Texas's plans for new nuclear energy.
"The University of Texas System, Permian Basin cities and private industry hope to bring the nation's first High Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor to Andrews County. A feasibility study is under way on the reactor, which would cost $400 million and be completed by 2012."
"The reactor would use fuels that include uranium, some types of plutonium and thorium and spent reactor fuel elements now in secure locations across the country. Fuel pellets about the size of poppy seeds would be covered with three layers of ceramic coating and would not rupture at temperatures up to 3,600 degrees, according to University of Texas-Permian Basin's Jim Wright, a spokesman for the project."
"At high temperatures it's believed the reactor can generate hydrogen for alternative energy. The reactor, which would be part of an energy research facility, is considered safer than traditional nuclear plants. Because it is cooled by helium rather than water, there is no danger of a meltdown, according to Wright. Japan and China are the only countries with high-temperature test reactors, and each is working to generate hydrogen."
posted by jr at 12:39 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
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