Illinois Republicans are sharply criticizing Governor J.B. Pritzker after he signed a sweeping new energy bill into law, warning the measure will drive up electric bills, weaken reliability, and hurt jobs and farmland across the state.

The legislation, known as the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, was signed this week and is being touted by the governor and Democrats to modernize Illinois’ energy grid and expand clean energy production. But Republican lawmakers say the plan will do the opposite.

State Representative Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville calls the bill a costly, centralized energy scheme that could cost Illinois ratepayers more than eight billion dollars.

Halbrook warns the law also shifts control over Illinois’ energy future to unelected bureaucrats appointed by the governor, limiting the role of lawmakers and local communities in major energy decisions.

He also criticized the legislation for moving away from traditional energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas, which he says could otherwise provide reliable, affordable power and good-paying jobs in Illinois. Another major concern raised by Halbrook is the impact of expanding solar and energy projects on farmland.

Meanwhile, State Senator Steve McClure of Springfield says this new law follows the same pattern as the last major energy package passed a few years ago, which he says was promised to lower rates but instead helped push electric bills to record highs.

McClure says this new law is likely to make the situation even worse for families. He argues the bill weakens local control over controversial energy projects, including allowing battery storage facilities to be built as close as 150 feet from homes. He also says the legislation removes rate caps that protect consumers and shifts the financial risk of costly, unproven technologies onto ratepayers.

McClure says many families in central Illinois are already struggling with high utility bills, and he believes this new law will only add to that burden. Halbrook says Republicans support an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that focuses on affordability, reliability, domestic energy production, and protecting Illinois farmland.

Supporters of the bill argue it will help modernize Illinois’ energy grid and expand clean energy development, but Republicans say the true impact will be higher bills and less local control.