The original bill required solar power generated in Illinois. That means more jobs building utility scale solar, rooftop panels, and maybe a manufacturing plant. What more could you want than building clean energy and creating Illinois jobs?!
Recent advances make solar more cost effective in the Midwest. The industry is ready to explode across the region. This is Illinois' time to think ahead and grab all the solar jobs we can.
But what did our state leaders do? The provision requiring Illinois solar was removed. Utilities can buy solar generated elsewhere because it might be slightly cheaper. Now we don't know how many of those jobs will go to other states.
I don't get it. Maybe they were doing a favor for the coal or utility industry. Maybe they don't understand how popular clean energy and green jobs are with the public. Polls show that most people are willing to pay a little more on their utility bill if it means converting to clean energy.
Removing the in-state requirement will bring more bad news when a cap-and-trade program is passed. Utilities generating clean energy will be in better shape when there's a price on carbon. Coal-dependent utilities, and their customers, will be hit hardest. We should be building as much wind and solar inside Illinois as possible, not just buying from elsewhere.
The legislature deserves credit for passing the bill. But, it's obvious that some of our Democratic legislative leaders just don't get it.