{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"Illinois Consumers Face Record Increase in Electricity Bills Unless Legislature Blocks New Trump-Backed Fossil-Fuel Bailout | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"5kCs6Xilfb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/il-consumers-face-record-increase-in-electricity-bills-unless-legislature-acts\/\">Illinois Consumers Face Record Increase in Electricity Bills Unless Legislature Blocks New Trump-Backed Fossil-Fuel Bailout<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/il-consumers-face-record-increase-in-electricity-bills-unless-legislature-acts\/embed\/#?secret=5kCs6Xilfb\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Illinois Consumers Face Record Increase in Electricity Bills Unless Legislature Blocks New Trump-Backed Fossil-Fuel Bailout&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"5kCs6Xilfb\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Illinois Consumers Face Record Increase in Electricity Bills Unless Legislature Blocks New Trump-Backed Fossil-Fuel Bailout&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\u00a0January 21, 2020 CONTACT:\u00a0Jim Chilsen, (o) 312-263-4282, (c) 312-513-1784 ILLINOIS CONSUMERS FACE RECORD INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY BILLS UNLESS LEGISLATURE BLOCKS NEW TRUMP-BACKED FOSSIL-FUEL BAILOUT BILL PENDING IN ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD QUASH THE THREAT OF AN $864 MILLION INCREASE ON NORTHERN ILLINOIS CUSTOMERS CHICAGO &#8212; Clean energy legislation pending before the General Assembly stands as the only viable alternative to an explosive increase in electricity costs\u2014believed to be the largest in state history\u2014for millions of Illinois consumers, following a recent regulatory ruling by appointees of President Trump, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition said Tuesday. The coalition of consumer, business, environmental, and faith-based organizations joined with state Rep. Ann Williams, state Sen. Cristina Castro and numerous other lawmakers to urge Gov. Pritzker and state legislators to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA). The bill contains a provision that would negate an estimated $864 million increase in power bills that threatens to hit northern Illinois consumers in the wake of the Dec. 19 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ruling. In fact, CEJA contains consumer protections that would not only prevent the Trump administration\u2019s cost increase from taking effect, but would also lower northern Illinois power bills below their current levels. The controversial FERC ruling, adopted by a 2-1 majority comprised of Trump-appointed regulators, would force Illinois consumers to pay extra for electricity generated by coal and other dirty sources of power that aren\u2019t needed to serve local demand. Consumer advocates said it reflects two recurring themes of the Trump Presidency\u2014his distaste for clean energy and a mission to bail out the coal industry\u2014that should signal to Illinois lawmakers that the White House could be using the state\u2019s energy policy as a political weapon. The ruling impacts a dozen states, but northern Illinois faces one of the most damaging increases, according to an analysis by the consulting firm Grid Strategies, which estimated that power bills here could skyrocket by $864 million a year. \u201cThe Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) policy doesn\u2019t make sense for our economy or our environment,\u201d U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said. \u201cWorking families will see increased energy bills and jobs will be lost in the growing clean energy industry. States like Illinois have been leading the way in taking advantage of clean energy sources such as wind and solar power and the FERC should not be stunting such growth for the benefit of energy company executives.\u201d \u201cThis is a clear example of the Trump administration interfering with Illinois\u2019 energy policy to make us pay more for expensive and dirty power,\u201d said state Rep. Ann Williams, CEJA\u2019s House sponsor. \u201cThe General Assembly has an excellent opportunity to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act and protect northern Illinois residents from nearly a billion dollars in higher electric bills every year. But we must act now, before these higher bills are locked in.\u201d \u201cThe Clean Energy Jobs Act will make the state a national leader in securing clean, affordable energy for all consumers in the state,\u201d said [&hellip;]","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CUB_IL_LogoBadgeRGBAdminLogo.png","thumbnail_width":254,"thumbnail_height":254}