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>> LESS THAN TWO WEEKS REMAIN

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UNTIL EXELON SAYS IT WILL CLOSE

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A PAIR OF NUCLEAR PLANTS IN

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ILLINOIS.

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LEGISLATORS ARE WORKING TO KEEP

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THEM OPEN.

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THERE IS NO CONCRETE PATH.

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AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH

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MORE.

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AMANDA ARE THEY AT LEAST CLOSE?

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>> PARIS, YOU DESCRIBED IT AS A

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SPARK AND THAT IS TRUE.

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ALBEIT A SMALL ONE WHILE MOST

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YOU WERE PROBABLY ASLEEP AT 1:00

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A.M., THE ILLINOIS SENATE PASSED

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A MASSIVE ENERGY BILL AND THAT

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IS MORE MORE.

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THAN THERE HAS BEEN.

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AND THIS MEASURE WILL HAVE

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CUSTOMERS PAYING A CHARGE ON THE

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ELECTRIC BILL TO KEEP THE

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NUCLEAR PLANTS OPEN BUT IT SETS

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TARGETS FOR MOVING ILLINOIS TO

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RELY SOLELY ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

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AND IT DOES MORE.

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>> THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY, THIS IS

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ABOUT JOBS AND ECONOMIC

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OPPORTUNITY.

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THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING

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COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN

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TRANSITION RIGHT NOW AND ARE

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ALREADY EXPERIENCING THE CLOSURE

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OF FOSSIL FUEL PLANTS NOT

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BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION BUT

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BECAUSE COAL AND OTHER DIRTY

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FOSSIL FUELS ARE BEING PUSHED

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OUT OF THE MARKET BECAUSE THEY

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ARE UNCOMPETITIVE.

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>> LET'S UNFOLD THIS THIS

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OMNIBUS PACKAGE, EXELON SAYS THE

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PLANTS ARE LOSING MONEY SO

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WITHOUT A SUBSIDY IT WILL SHUT

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THEM DOWN AND IN BYRON, IT WILL

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COMBINE DEACTIVATING A GENERATOR

45
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SEPTEMBER 13TH AND THAT WOULD

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MEAN THE LOSS OF THOUSANDS OF

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JOBS AND COULD UNDERMINE

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ILLINOIS' CLIMATE GOALS BECAUSE

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ILLINOIS' NUCLEAR FLEET IS

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RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN HALF

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OF ALL OF THE ENERGY PRODUCED IN

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THE STATE BUT ALSO, THE VAST

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MAJORITY OF CARBON FREE ENERGY.

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BOB GALLO DIRECTOR OF AARP

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ILLINOIS SAYS CUSTOMERS SHOULD

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NOT BE FOOTING THE BILL TO KEEP

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THESE PLANTS OPEN, AARP DID A

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STUDY AND IN IT ESTIMATES THAT

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IT WILL COST RATEPAYERS $14

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BILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

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>> OUR CONCERN ALL ALONG HAS

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BEEN MAKING SURE THAT RATEPAYERS

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ARE REPRESENTED IN THESE

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CONVERSATIONS AND TO DATE THEY

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HAVEN'T.

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AND THERE'S SUCH A DEJA VU ALL

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OVER AGAIN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON

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WITH ComEd AND EXELON.

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THIS IS LIKE A LET'S MAKE A DEAL

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WITH THE LEGISLATURE

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>> NOW, THAT IS IN REFERENCE TO

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THE LEGAL TROUBLE THAT EXELON

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ComEd IS IN IN PART BECAUSE

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OF AN ALLEGED BRIBERY SCANDAL IN

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WHICH THE COMPANY WORKED TO PASS

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A LAW SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT

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SIMILARLY BAILED OUT NUCLEAR

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PLANTS IN CLINTON AND THE QUAD

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CITIES.

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BUT THIS IS FAR FROM THE ONLY

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HURDLE.

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A MAJOR OBSTACLE HAS BEEN OVER

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HOW AND WHEN ILLINOIS WILL SCALE

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DOWN COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

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00:03:00,366 --> 00:03:06,700
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND

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ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANT ALL COAL

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PLANTS CLOSED BY THE YEAR 2045.

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AGAIN, ALL OF THEM.

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THEY ALSO WANT ALL OF THESE

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PLANTS ESPECIALLY ONE THAT

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OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS THAT HAS

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CONTRACTS WITH THE

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MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING

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NAPERVILLE TO HAVE TO RAMP DOWN

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PRODUCTION UNTIL THAT CLOSING

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DATE.

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>> ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO PHASE

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00:03:24,466 --> 00:03:30,066
OUT FOSSIL FUELS FROM OUR

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ECONOMY ALTOGETHER BUT WE HAVE

100
00:03:27,733 --> 00:03:34,833
TO MAKE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS

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00:03:30,066 --> 00:03:36,966
QUICKLY THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE.

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00:03:31,733 --> 00:03:39,766
THE LONGER WE WAIT THE MORE TONS

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OF CARBON GO INTO THE

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ATMOSPHERE, THE MORE THE PLANET

105
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GETS HOTTER.

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SO IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE A

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DATE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DO

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00:03:44,633 --> 00:03:48,633
THIS IN THE FUTURE.

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00:03:45,566 --> 00:03:50,300
WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE DATES BUT

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WE NEED TO START ACTING RIGHT

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NOW.

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>> BUT CRITICS INCLUDING

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LEGISLATORS FROM DOWN STATE SAY

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THAT PREMATURE TARGETS AND

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CLOSURE ALSO FORCE ILLINOIS TO

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IMPORT ENERGY FROM NEIGHBORING

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STATES.

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>> AN ISSUE PRESS RELEASES THAT

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WILL BE THE TOUGHEST STATE IN

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THE UNION WE ARE GOING TO GET

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RID OF CARBON.

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REALLY?

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BECAUSE HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO

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HAPPEN.

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DO YOU KNOW WHERE ALL THE

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ELECTRONS WILL COME FROM?

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THEY WILL GET BACKFILLED FROM

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INDIANA AND KENTUCKY WHICH ARE

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CARBON.

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>> THAT HE SAYS OR RISK ROLLING

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BROWNOUTS TO WHICH MICHAEL

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HASTINGS HAD THIS RESPONSE.

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>> THAT'S SOME BOOGIE MAN TALK

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IF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR POLITICAL

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OFFICE.

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THERE IS MECHANISMS IN THIS BILL

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THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR

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00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:48,466
NOT THE BASE LOAD GENERATION FOR

139
00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:48,933
THE STATE IS ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO

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00:04:45,266 --> 00:04:50,566
MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE

141
00:04:48,466 --> 00:04:51,333
CONSUMERS.

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00:04:48,933 --> 00:04:53,233
>> NOW, YOU HAVE OTHER

143
00:04:50,566 --> 00:04:55,433
LEGISLATORS OPPOSING SOMETHING

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00:04:51,333 --> 00:04:57,033
THAT IS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF

145
00:04:53,233 --> 00:05:01,033
THIS ENDEAVOR AND THAT IS STATE

146
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SUPPORT, YES, TAXPAYER MONEY,

147
00:04:57,033 --> 00:05:03,433
FOR WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY

148
00:05:01,033 --> 00:05:04,700
COMPANIES.

149
00:05:01,833 --> 00:05:06,966
STATE SENATOR NEIL ANDERSON

150
00:05:03,433 --> 00:05:08,233
CALLS INEFFICIENT POWER SOURCES

151
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AND THE PRIORITY USED TO BE ON

152
00:05:06,966 --> 00:05:12,400
ILLINOIS GOING CARBON FREE AND

153
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NOW THE GOAL IS MOVING

154
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COMPLETELY TO WIND AND SOLAR.

155
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THIS LEGISLATION DOES HAVE A

156
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TARGET OF MOVING ILLINOIS TO

157
00:05:16,433 --> 00:05:24,600
100% RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2050.

158
00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:26,266
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

159
00:05:22,366 --> 00:05:27,700
IT'S BECAUSE ALL THE WIND AND

160
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:30,766
SOLAR AND INEFFICIENT POWER

161
00:05:26,266 --> 00:05:33,533
COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT ARE

162
00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:35,533
TRYING TO GET THEIR HAND IN THE

163
00:05:30,766 --> 00:05:38,133
TAXPAYER POT DON'T WANT NUCLEAR.

164
00:05:33,533 --> 00:05:38,600
THEY DON'T WANT NUCLEAR POWER

165
00:05:35,533 --> 00:05:39,600
THAT IS WHY WE'VE CHANGED THE

166
00:05:38,133 --> 00:05:42,000
NARRATIVE.

167
00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,633
USED TO BE CLEAN.

168
00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:45,300
NOW IT'S RENEWABLE.

169
00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:47,033
>> THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE

170
00:05:43,633 --> 00:05:48,900
CHANGES STATE SENATOR DON HARMON

171
00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:51,033
WHO HAS BEEN IN THE GENERAL

172
00:05:47,033 --> 00:05:53,066
ASSEMBLY FOR 18 YEARS, SPOKE TO

173
00:05:48,900 --> 00:05:53,333
THOSE CHALLENGES BUT ALSO HINTED

174
00:05:51,033 --> 00:05:54,766
AT HOPE FOR WORKING SOMETHING

175
00:05:53,066 --> 00:05:56,333
OUT.

176
00:05:53,333 --> 00:05:57,966
>> IN MY ENTIRE TIME IN THE

177
00:05:54,766 --> 00:05:59,500
SENATE THIS MAY BE THE MOST

178
00:05:56,333 --> 00:06:00,866
COMPLICATED BILL AND THE MOST

179
00:05:57,966 --> 00:06:03,000
CHALLENGING NEGOTIATION OF WHICH

180
00:05:59,500 --> 00:06:04,666
I'VE EVER BEEN PART.

181
00:06:00,866 --> 00:06:05,000
I MET TODAY AS I HAVE SEVERAL

182
00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,733
TIMES WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE

183
00:06:04,666 --> 00:06:08,333
SPEAKER.

184
00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:10,566
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE

185
00:06:06,733 --> 00:06:13,166
VERY WILLING AND ABLE PARTNERS

186
00:06:08,333 --> 00:06:15,633
IN BOTH TO GET THIS ACROSS THE

187
00:06:10,566 --> 00:06:17,233
FINISH LINE.

188
00:06:13,166 --> 00:06:18,733
IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE OUR

189
00:06:15,633 --> 00:06:21,466
EFFORTS TO LISTEN TO THE

190
00:06:17,233 --> 00:06:23,400
GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES, TO INSURE

191
00:06:18,733 --> 00:06:25,800
THAT THERE IS A HARD CLOSE OF

192
00:06:21,466 --> 00:06:26,100
CARBON EMITTING PLANTS.

193
00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:28,333
AND THAT THERE ARE NO SPECIAL

194
00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,266
DEALS.

195
00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:31,200
WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THE

196
00:06:28,333 --> 00:06:34,066
REQUIREMENTS HE WOULD HAVE TO

197
00:06:29,266 --> 00:06:34,900
SIGN THE BILL.

198
00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:36,800
>> SO WHAT IS NEXT?

199
00:06:34,066 --> 00:06:38,566
PROCEDURALLY THE MEASURE HEADS

200
00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:40,233
TO THE HOUSE AND MORE

201
00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:42,133
NEGOTIATING BETWEEN UNIONS AND

202
00:06:38,566 --> 00:06:44,500
ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND ALSO THE

203
00:06:40,233 --> 00:06:46,866
GOVERNOR WHO HAD WHAT I WILL

204
00:06:42,133 --> 00:06:48,800
DESCRIBE AS A TEPID RESPONSE TO

205
00:06:44,500 --> 00:06:50,500
THE SENATE PLAN SAYING HE WANTS

206
00:06:46,866 --> 00:06:52,733
A VARIOUS CHANGES TO IT.

207
00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,466
AND REALLY THIS COAL PLANT PHASE

208
00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:54,800
OUT IS GOING TO BE A KEY PART OF

209
00:06:52,733 --> 00:06:56,900
THAT.

210
00:06:53,466 --> 00:06:58,733
MEANWHILE YOU HAVE EXELON

211
00:06:54,800 --> 00:07:01,400
ISSUING A STATEMENT SAYING IT IS

212
00:06:56,900 --> 00:07:03,466
ESSENTIALLY DOING ALL IT CAN TO

213
00:06:58,733 --> 00:07:05,133
KEEP THINGS RUNNING AT THE BYRON

214
00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:07,333
PLANT IN CASE THERE IS A

215
00:07:03,466 --> 00:07:09,833
LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION BUT THE

216
00:07:05,133 --> 00:07:11,633
CORPORATION SAID QUOTE TO BE

217
00:07:07,333 --> 00:07:13,833
CLEAR, BYRON WILL RUN OUT OF

218
00:07:09,833 --> 00:07:16,133
FUEL AND WILL PERMANENTLY

219
00:07:11,633 --> 00:07:16,433
SHUTDOWN ON SEPTEMBER 13TH

220
00:07:13,833 --> 00:07:18,000
UNLESS A LAW IS ENACTED BEFORE

221
00:07:16,133 --> 00:07:19,433
THEN.

222
00:07:16,433 --> 00:07:21,666
WITH THAT PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

223
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:22,000
>> DOWN TO THE FINAL DAYS IN

224
00:07:19,433 --> 00:07:24,366
WHAT FEELS LIKE AN END BUILDING