Company spokesman Tucker Kennedy says Ameren Illinois is all for new ways of generating electricity without burning coal and gas. But making the switch too soon is why energy supply prices are up. The clean energy has to come online with enough capacity to make up for the dirty energy being shut down. Or there will be shortages.
Power companies in Illinois are buying power from generators in other states. Kennedy says Ameren expects to be able to buy enough to serve all its customers. But the transmission lines that bring it in from other states can’t handle it all. The only solutions are people using less or temporary blackouts.