ENERGY Given how the fall veto session ended – with a hurried attempt to impose more restrictions on carbon capture and sequestration, costly programs mandating energy efficiency, and new restrictions for wetland protection – the Chamber viewed the Spring Session as one that would find us on defense throughout the spring. These topics, and a few others, sought to impose unreasonable limitations on businesses, and staff worked with our members and other partners to slow the adoption of legislation that would impede economic growth. Given these issues and the outcomes, the legislative session was certainly a success, but the work has only just begun as we look to educate legislators and policymakers on the effects that their energy proposals have on economic development and growth. Energy Omnibus Chamber staff stayed apprised of energy discussions and sought feedback from our members as rumors and legislative language emerged during the last month of session. Talks didn’t seem to have any real urgency even as rumors abounded, and it appeared that an energy omnibus would not be considered this spring. That all changed when, two weeks before the scheduled adjournment, an 800-page draft was disseminated by House Democratic staff to countless stakeholders. Over the next two weeks, five more drafts were dissemi- nated, including two in the last two days of session. Besides analyzing the proposals for member impact and reaching out to our partners to coordinate a strategy, the Chamber team worked with our members to ensure that a cohesive message was sent to legislators and policymakers. This was another costly omnibus that did little to ensure reliable, low-cost energy while impeding business growth and making Illinois less attractive to businesses seeking to expand or locate here. An energy omnibus did not pass either chamber. Carbon Capture and Sequestration Two bills addressing CCS were ultimately adopted by the General Assembly, and the Chamber was involved in revising each proposal before adoption. Senate Bill 1723 (Faraci/Ammons), which prohibits injection of CO2 through the Mahomet Aquifer, and Senate Bill 1697 (Fine/Hoffman), which addresses compensation for pore space owners and provides more clarity regarding liability for damage to the surface, ultimately were passed by both houses and will be sent to the Governor’s Office. Each of these proposals was considerably more ex- pansive and burdensome as introduced, but substantial changes urged by the Chamber narrowed each pro- posal’s scope, making them far more reasonable. PFAS There were three legislative proposals on PFAS that had some traction during the last quarter: one prohibiting the sale of products that included intentionally added PFAS, another that prohibited the use of PFAS-contain- ing products in personal protective equipment for firefighters, and a third that would create a PFAS task force that would focus on shifting the burden on addressing PFAS in wastewater away from wastewater treatment operators. Only the first two proposals passed both houses. This was only after significant work from the Chamber and our partners to appropriately define key terms and limit the prohibitions to products where alternatives already exist. Environmental Justice The Chamber has been at the forefront of this issue over the last several years as activists sought to develop far-reaching and extraordinarily onerous proposals that would have crippled development in certain parts of the State. A proposal drafted by the Chamber and our partners in the business community gave legislators a reasonable proposal to consider, and this seemingly had the effect of stalling all EJ-related legislation in this session until Illinois EPA offered its language in mid-April. In the last two weeks of the session, when there were indications that the proposal might move, the Chamber coordinated an effort with our partners to slow 2025 END OF SESSION ILLINOIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 7 | END OF SESSION REPORT
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.