A bill in the Illinois House and a companion bill in the Senate is raising concerns with the state’s largest downstate power provider. The Clean Energy Jobs Act, or CEJA aims to move Illinois to 100% renewable energy by 2050. An Ameren Illinois spokesman says as it is written, its customers will pay more than $20 Billion over the next 30 years. Tucker Kennedy says the proposed strategy may work for the northern half of the state, but the transition could cost downstate communities significantly.

CEJA would also phase out fossil fuel powered energy plants by the end of the decade. He says there isn't enough renewable energy infrastructure right now in downstate Illinois to make up for them, meaning more energy will need to be imported, causing costs to skyrocket.