A recent Sun-Times article (Illinois bill to push renewable energy dies after businesses balk) touches on an important cost issue that deserves more context: It’s true that building energy storage capacity requires an initial investment for consumers, but it’s important to weigh all sides of the equation — including the cost of inaction.
The proposed energy omnibus would have made smart investments today to avoid skyrocketing energy costs tomorrow.
Consider our current reality: Illinois is already experiencing higher electricity prices as of June 1, purely because we do not have enough energy to meet our future needs. More price increases will inevitably follow until we build more capacity.
Lawmakers and stakeholders widely agree on the urgency of the issue, and there is broad support for solutions within the energy omnibus.
Battery storage is a powerful price stabilizer. According to a study by Gabel Associates, if Illinois had 3.5 gigawatts of storage in place in the most recent Midcontinent Independent System Operator capacity auction, it would have cut the capacity price in half, saving consumers approximately $12 per month. That same study found 7 gigawatts could have reduced energy prices by 80%.
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In short, consumer electric bills would be a lot lower for decades to come had Illinois invested in energy storage sooner. In fact, 8.5 gigawatts of storage capacity would provide an estimated $2.5 billion in consumer savings between 2030 and 2049, according to a study by The Power Bureau.
Simply put, additional storage capacity counteracts the reason energy prices are skyrocketing. Naturally, there is an initial investment to support storage development, but once installations are operational, they deliver net savings by year five for ComEd customers and year three for Ameren customers.
The cost of inaction is extremely high. Not only will energy rates continue to skyrocket but Illinois will also suffer additional consequences, such as setting back the Illinois economy, increasing the risk of blackouts and signaling to businesses that Illinois is not a stable place to invest.
We are near the finish line with an energy solution that will ensure Illinois enjoys the cost-saving and grid-stabilizing benefits of solar and storage. We look forward to continued collaboration with our leaders in Springfield to pass a comprehensive energy package this summer.
Lesley McCain, executive director, Illinois Solar Energy & Storage Association, Palatine
Senators, don’t pull the plug on PBS, NPR
In September 2005, my mom drove me to Rosemont to watch “Dragon Tales Live!,” a final hurrah for the two of us before my sister was born shortly after.
Only a few photos survive from that day. One is of me, another is of Zak and Wheezie, conjoined dragon siblings from the show, captured mid-performance. Their dynamic as brother and sister might have subconsciously prepared me for becoming a sibling myself and, in hindsight, offered an early mirror for my own neurodivergence.
The way Zak and Wheezie managed their conflicting needs offered 2-year-old me an intuitive model for accepting and balancing the different parts of myself; they weren’t problems but strengths that can work together.
The U.S. House of Representative’s recent approval to cut $1.1 billion cut to public broadcasting over the next two years threatens the existence of PBS and NPR — the very platforms that brought “Dragon Tales” into my life, as well as millions of fellow Gen Z kids.
This is not just about politics; it’s about disarming a decades-old system that provides accessible programs for children of all minds and backgrounds.
A 2016 study published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders found that nearly 60% of U.S. children with autism also had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Through rediscovering Zak and Wheezie, I learned my autistic side and my ADHD side were conjoined, much like the twin dragons.
The federal funding threat jeopardizes the future of accessible educational programming that has been a lifeline for many, especially in underserved communities where streaming services and cable television remain luxuries. This change could especially affect children who depend on free, well-made programs that recognize different ways of understanding and experiencing the world.
On Neurodiversity Pride Day — Monday — pride for me isn’t just about acceptance but about actively celebrating neurodivergent minds that process, create and connect in unique ways.
Zak and Wheezie have shown me neurodivergence isn’t about becoming someone else but embracing the beautiful duality of being. In a world that’s increasingly hostile to public education and neurodiversity, this pride is not only personal but also political.
And like Wheezie’s motto, “Love it!” we choose to love ourselves exactly as we are, championing the right of future generations to find their own reflections in accessible, thoughtful media that speaks to minds of all kinds.
Owen Meldon, neurodivergent composer/music educator, Oswego
Anti-Tesla crowd’s newest member
Recent for sale ad seen in Washington, D.C.’s, PennySaver:
For Sale: 2025 Tesla Model S; Deep Red with less than 100 miles; owned for less than three months. I bought this Tesla before I knew that Elon Musk was crazy and a rat. Contact: DJT @ 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; 20500. Terms: Cash or $Trump coin.
Paul L. Newman, Merion Station, Pennsylvania
Watching a game on TV isn’t so simple anymore
Chicago Sports Network’s exit from broadcast TV put the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks in the same category as the Cubs and Fire, where those without cable/satellite are relegated to second class fan status. Before the move, everyone could watch the games, but now, many can’t. Chicago teams should be for all Chicago fans.
Many older fans grew up watching games in black and white on WGN, but now, we must follow the games on radio, like our fathers did. This is progress?
Say it ain’t so.
Larry E. Nazimek, Logan Square