CLEAN ENERY JOBS ACT
By Tom Maguire
While the Green New Deal may be stalled in Washington, Illinois is
poised to become a leader in environmental protection and carbon emission
reduction. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (SB 2132, HB 3624) will transition
the state to entirely renewable energy by 2050 while protecting Illinois’
citizens and economy.
The act will not only transition energy production in Illinois to
100% renewables, but will also support municipalities in transitioning to
electric transportation and extending the reach of public transportation.
Furthermore, the bill aims to address economic and social justice
inequalities associated with both climate change and the transition away from
fossil fuels.
Following the success of the Future Energy Jobs Act, Illinois is
scheduled to have 25 percent renewable energy by 2025. However, we are
behind in that goal with only 8 percent of electricity currently produced
through renewables. Yet Illinois has an
aging power generation infrastructure that needs replacing or updating in the
near future and the Clean Energy Jobs Act provides the next step.
The bill is sponsored by 17 members in the state senate (assigned
to the Energy and Public Utilities Committee) and 41 members in the state house
(assigned to the Energy and Environment Committee).
Please contact senators and representatives to support this bill
either in committee or on the floor. The Clean Energy Jobs Act will make
Illinois a leader both environmentally and economically in the U.S. More
importantly though, with the President’s disastrous absence of leadership and
harmful environmental policies and appointments, it is vital that states and
cities take the lead in protecting the planet for future generations.
