Governor on board with forthcoming changes to Exelon bill

With only one scheduled day remaining in the General Assembly’s fall veto session, a deal has taken shape between Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office and Exelon Corp. that could pave the way for passage of the company’s proposed energy policy overhaul. Exelon has changed the proposal several time in recent weeks in attempts to address the concerns of environmental groups, consumer advocates and, in a forthcoming amendment, large manufacturers. However, subsidies to keep open the company’s financially struggling Clinton and Quad-Cities nuclear power plants remain at the heart of the package, along with other policy and rate changes designed to increase investment in renewable power and energy efficiency. Exelon has said it will take steps toward shutting down the Clinton plant on June 1 if lawmakers don’t approve the bill during their fall veto session