SR0130 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0130 LRB102 17311 ECR 22797 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Power generation companies have invested billions of dollars in Illinois to make the state the fifth largest generation state in the country; and

WHEREAS, Unlike California and other States in the Union, Illinois is a net exporter of electricity in the Midwest region; and

WHEREAS, The power industry supports more than 285,000 jobs in Illinois; 103,000 of those jobs are direct high paying jobs that run the power plants 24 hours a day; many if not most of the jobs are union jobs that pay twice the national median salary; and

WHEREAS, The electric power industry accounts for five percent of the Illinois economy, with the industry and its workers accounting for at least $3.7 billion in taxes in every community in the State; these taxes keep property taxes low in the counties that contain power generation assets; and

WHEREAS, The electric power industry runs plants that keep Illinois electric power reliable and effective; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly support the electric industry in Illinois and stand behind the men and women who operate the electric plants every day and keep the lights on for Illinois citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED, We support keeping Illinois an exporter of power in the Midwest, therefore not relying on other state legislatures for our power; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support public policy for reliable and moderately priced electric power that will keep large electric power plants operating well into the foreseeable future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent to the Governor and to the Speaker of the House.