Rock Island Today

The Rock Island area's energy customers should save money and its economy should keep thousands of jobs thanks to the passage of the Future Energy Jobs bill, Gov. Bruce Rauner's website reported recently.

The bill ensures that the Quad Cities and Clinton power facilities will stay open for at least another decade.

Senate Bill 2814 was a bipartisan measure in which Rauner got involved when it looked like the bill would allow energy rates to climb rapidly, the website said, adding that Rauner worked with lawmakers to create the framework for a deal that preserved jobs and capped residential and business energy rates.

“This is a big win for consumers,” Dave Kolata, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board said, according to the Quad City Times. “It’s Economics 101 – reducing demand for electricity also reduces the price.”

According to the website, the legislation protects jobs in the power facilities and those supported by the power they generate, thanks to rate caps. It also protects residential consumers, the site says.

“With this legislation, Illinois will now be able to compete head-to-head with any other state in the nation in the race to build a renewable energy economy – and win,” Lesley McCain, director of the Illinois Solar Energy Association, told the Quad City Times.