The Illinois House of Representatives could vote later this week on a bill that would require the state's electricity suppliers to buy all of the output of Tenaska's proposed 602-MW Taylorville coal-gasification plant for 30 years at above-market rates after a House committee Monday approved the measure in a 7-4 vote.
All six Democrats and one Republican member of the House Electric Generation and Commerce Committee voted for the bill (S.B. 2485), while four Republicans voted against it. The bill would caps electric increases for residential customers at 2% above current levels, but provides no cost protections for larger customers.
Several business groups have expressed opposition to the legislation, saying the measure would deal a hard blow to retail electricity competition in the state.
Tenaska, an Omaha, Nebraska-based independent power producer say the $3.5 billion project would create 2,500 construction and 150 permanent jobs. The company hopes to bring the plant into operation by 2015.
All six Democrats and one Republican member of the House Electric Generation and Commerce Committee voted for the bill (S.B. 2485), while four Republicans voted against it. The bill would caps electric increases for residential customers at 2% above current levels, but provides no cost protections for larger customers.
Several business groups have expressed opposition to the legislation, saying the measure would deal a hard blow to retail electricity competition in the state.
Tenaska, an Omaha, Nebraska-based independent power producer say the $3.5 billion project would create 2,500 construction and 150 permanent jobs. The company hopes to bring the plant into operation by 2015.
