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County lobbyists say energy package, battery storage and Tier 2 pensions remain unresolved
Summary
State lobbyists told DuPage County's legislative committee that energy legislation to support battery storage and pension (Tier 2) reforms were among unfinished issues after the end of the session; both are expected to return for further negotiation in October or next spring.
DuPage County's state lobbyists told the county legislative committee on June 10 that energy and Tier 2 pension changes were among the major unfinished items at the end of the General Assembly's work.
Chip Humes and Mark Polis briefed the committee that energy legislation underwent multiple last-minute amendments and that a reliable battery-storage framework did not make it into final law this session. "Without battery storage, we will not meet our CJA 2030, 20 20 35 goals of renewable energy," Polis said, describing the policy need to store renewable generation for later delivery to the grid.
Why it matters: lobbyists said battery storage is central to enabling renewable projects to deliver energy during peak demand rather than allowing generation to go unused. The late-session energy package underwent five iterations and five amendments in the final 48 hours, Polis said; the group expects renewed negotiations in October and again in the next legislative session.
Pensions: both Polis and Humes described Tier 2 pension reform as an unresolved fiscal question. Polis said there had been outlines and negotiations late last year and into this session, but differences between labor and the governor's office led to the working groups being scrapped and pension proposals dropped in the final days. The lobbyists said they expect renewed, serious discussions beginning in January of next year.
Discussion vs. action: the committee received the briefing and did not take a formal position on any specific energy or pension measure at the June 10 meeting. Lobbyists asked the committee to expect continued activity in October and during the next legislative session.
Ending: county staff and lobbyists said they would return with updates if negotiations shift over the summer; no county-level votes were recorded on energy or pension policies at the June 10 meeting.
