Grundy Reporter

The Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) urges Gov. J.B. Pritzker to make changes to his energy plan.

According to a news release, IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler said the state needs to protect its energy market.

“Illinois needs to protect and preserve its competitive energy market, which has saved Illinois businesses and residents billions of dollars over the past two decades," Denzler said. "We need to continue with an all-of-the-above approach for energy that includes nuclear, coal, gas and renewable sources of energy so that we have a safe, reliable, affordable and efficient supply of electricity to power our businesses and homes."

Denzler said Pritzker's plan doesn't take into account that manufacturers are large consumers of energy.

"Manufacturers are the largest consumers of energy, running sometimes two and three shifts a day, and this plan does not contain any safeguards to protect businesses and residents from increased energy costs,” Denzler said. "Manufacturers are committed to sustainability and over the past decade we have used innovative technology to reduce our carbon footprint by 21% while increasing economic output by 18%."

Denzler said the IMA wants to work with Pritzker and lawmakers on a better energy plan moving forward.

"The industrial sector employs 550,000 women and men in good, high-paying jobs that produce more than $304 billion in annual economic output, the single largest share of Illinois’ economy," Denzler said. "We look forward to working with the governor and policymakers about the best way to move forward rather than simply imposing artificial goals."