Free-photos/Pixabay
Free-photos/Pixabay
Our state’s flawed energy policies are leaving Illinois businesses out to dry, costing thousands of jobs and increasing prices on consumers at an unsustainable rate.
Most notably, Senate Bill 2048 is the most aggressive state energy bill ever passed. The bill seeks to close all fossil fuel plants by 2045, as well as invest over $650 million into a “transition to clean energy.” Unfortunately, while this may sound worthwhile, it could bankrupt our state and put tens of thousands of Illinoisans out of work.
Not only will small businesses be forced to shoulder most of the burden of looming higher energy prices, but job layoffs from existing businesses and their partners will occur en masse. Additionally, provisions of the bill recklessly shell out money to municipal bureaucrats as well as legal bodies that will be incentivized to trip up businesses attempting to keep up with the rapidly changing new regulations.
Unfortunately, as in most cases, small businesses lose out. Without armies of lawyers to advise them of the changes they need to make and how to maintain compliance, lawsuits will abound, forcing many businesses to close or flee the state. Simultaneously, prices will rise dramatically for everyday consumers, and thousands of families will be destroyed by a loss of income or the inability to pay the electricity bill.
Illinois’ energy policies are reckless, and our current trajectory is unsustainable. We desperately need lawmakers to reverse course and prioritize small businesses and working families before it’s too late.
Tony Kanik is the owner of Kanik Oil.
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