McHenry Times

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Lake Barrington) took to Facebook to call out Democrats’ efforts to switch from using fossil fuel to green energy.

"Clean Green Energy is a laudable goal. But it should NOT put the standards of living of working families in jeopardy. People DID NOT VOTE for Democrat policy makers to clean all the green out of the bank accounts of middle class families," McLaughlin wrote on Facebook. "We need to change the policies that have driven gas and energy prices to sky high levels. Open our pipelines and domestic oil production. We have the resources -- let's use them now!"

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported motorists are paying 15% in taxes at the pump.

“Capping Illinois’ sky-high taxes on gasoline would be welcome relief for Illinois motorists and fuel retailers as inflation and geopolitical forces continue to wreak havoc on the economy,” Josh Sharp, CEO of Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, was quoted on Sen. Darren Bailey's (R-Louisville) website.

McLaughlin and Bailey are joining their Republican colleagues in pushing legislation to slow the rising price of gasoline.

 “I am also co-sponsoring legislation along with Leader Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) and Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) that would cap the rate of sales tax at 0.18 cents per gallon of gas,” Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) wrote on his website. “(House Bill) 5481 would prevent the sales tax on a gallon of gas from ever going above that amount regardless of an increase in gas prices.”

AAA noted that the average price of a regular gallon of gas in Illinois is $4.506, as of March 21 — up from $3.088 one year ago. The national average cost is $4.252.

Energy Insider reported ComEd enacted a rate increase, for the first time in four years, that took effect in January. Joe Dominguez, ComEd CEO, said the $51 million increase was a “thoughtful investment” necessary to sustain Illinois’ push for clean energy.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act into law in September. The legislation requires the Prairie State Energy Campus (PSEC) coal plant to shut down by 2045 and the state will invest $580 million per year in green energy.

PSEC powers the homes of 2.5 million families every day, according to its website. The facility produces 1,600 megawatts of electricity.