HIGHLAND, IL - Following the release of the 2025 Resource Adequacy Study by the Illinois Power Agency, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Illinois Commerce Commission warning of an impending energy shortage, State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) released the following statement:

"Governor Pritzker's own agencies are now admitting what my Republican colleagues and I have been saying all along - Illinois Democrats rushed extreme energy mandates through the General Assembly without accounting for the rising demand or loss of reliable power plants," said Rep. Charlie Meier. "For folks in Southern Illinois, this means they'll pay more for less reliable energy while manufacturing jobs and family budgets are thrown into chaos."

The study acknowledges that demand growth driven by data centers was not taken into account when Democrats passed their 'green' energy laws in recent years, some of which require coal and natural gas plants to be retired faster than replacement energy sources can be built. The report concedes that existing coal plants may need to remain online to keep up with the energy demand and prevent blackouts. Despite the concerns stated regarding energy capacity, Democrats are still pushing electric vehicle mandates and hope to reach 1,000,000 electric vehicles on our roads in the next four years, which is certain to add more strain to our already weakened electric grid.

"We need action, plain and simple," Rep. Charlie Meier continued. "Our reliable plants need to stay online and it's time to stop these unrealistic mandates until dependable, affordable, functional alternatives are actually ready."