Bad Climate Policy Fuels Skyrocketing Electric Bills

Bad Climate Policy Fuels Skyrocketing Electric Bills

In his excellent history of the 20th century, Modern Times, Paul Johnson quotes one of Stalin’s economists: “Our task is not to study economics but to change it. We are bound by no laws.” I believe this describes the general tenor of the Democratic regime that rules Chicago and Illinois. They are people who believe that they can transcend the order and laws God has established, hence their support for abortion, the mutilation of children, and a host of other evils.

The purpose of this article is to show how this same attitude affects the production of electricity in our state. An example of this mentality comes from Jen Walling, head of the Illinois Environmental Council, who told Capitol News Illinois, “We’re trying to keep prices low while combating climate change.”

Well, what do you think the Illinois Environmental Council and our state government have been doing to achieve this? Did you tremble when you opened your June or July power bills? According to one source, the cost of electricity for Illinois residents increased by at least 10% (some saw a 22% increase). Since 2015, the average residential price has increased by over 30%. And get ready for more increases, because wind and solar have been given federal subsidies, which will now be cut moving forward.

The promotion of wind and solar energy has been artificial from the beginning. There are real laws of economics established by God that cannot be violated without consequence. Further, the ideas of saving the environment or helping the poor often lead to outcomes that do exactly the opposite.

Do you know that it takes about 800 average-sized wind turbines to match the power output of a typical nuclear power plant? Of course, nuclear power plants are very expensive to build and operate. One thing we can be very thankful for in Illinois is that before all the environmental craziness came to dominate our state, Illinois became the leading state with respect to nuclear power. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Illinois generates more electricity from nuclear energy than any other state, accounting for one-eighth of the nation’s total nuclear power generation.”

Illinois is the 5^th largest electricity producer in the nation, though the rates for residential electricity rank in the 16 highest states. It could be worse, but that doesn’t help you keep your house cool in the summer.

As I stated, there are laws of economics that cannot be transcended by either liberal or conservative ideas. When both demand (data centers, electric vehicles) and government interference increase, you are certainly going to see prices go up. Corruption also increases prices. ComEd had to pay a $200 million fine for its role in the Michael Madigan bribery scandal. Guess who pays that $200 million?

Our foolish state government in 2021 passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). This Orwellian legislation established artificial goals of 40% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% carbon-free power by 2045. Guess what that is going to do to your electric bill? In 1918, Illinois mined over 90 million tons of coal, but if you ask the activists making the decisions, we are going to save the planet by not using any of this potential resource in the future.

I wish there were simple solutions and answers other than raising your thermostat to 85 degrees in the summer and lowering it to 55 degrees in the winter. We have been richly blessed here with so many resources. Overall, we are a hardworking, productive state. But when a people turns from God and puts its trust in idols or men, it will experience God’s divine justice, which affects us all.

Until we see a significant change in the leadership of this state and true repentance among our citizens, we can expect more of the same. Let your electric and gas bills encourage you to pray and work for change in our state.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send a message to Gov. Pritzker and your Illinois lawmakers: Repeal the foolish Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Rescind those policies that are bleeding residents dry and deliver taxpayers real tax relief now.