BBB will supercharge CEJA’s impact on climate, equity, and good-paying jobs
CHICAGO – On the heels of Governor JB Pritzker signing the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), the most equitable clean energy jobs law of its kind in the nation, today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act (BBBA), one the most significant investments in climate resiliency and clean energy in history. Together, these two pieces of legislation will put Illinois and the country on the path to reduce the carbon pollution that drives climate change while creating jobs and opportunity for all. The U.S. Senate must now move swiftly to pass BBBA and its critical climate provisions.
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition released the following statement after the House vote:
“Build Back Better is a great complement to Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, reducing carbon emissions, supercharging Illinois’ clean energy economy and creating thousands of jobs in every community while reducing exposure to air and water pollution, especially in our drinking water. We would like to thank all 13 Democratic members of Congress from Illinois for voting yes, especially U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood, Sean Casten, Marie Newman, Bobby Rush, and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for leading the charge in the House. We are also grateful for the leadership of Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and their work to pass Build Back Better through the U.S. Senate as quickly as possible.”
Governor JB Pritzker also highlighted the impact of Build Back Better in tandem with state progress in Illinois:
“When paired with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), today’s House passage of the Build Back Better Act is a significant climate and economic breakthrough for Illinois and our nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The tax credits in Build Back Better can jump start wind and solar projects here in Illinois, creating thousands of good-paying union jobs and speeding CEJA’s requirement to completely decarbonize Illinois’ electricity sector by 2045. Rebates from Build Back Better will make it more affordable for middle-class and working families to install solar panels on their rooftops, complementing the five-fold increase into renewable energy from CEJA that will also generate clean energy and reduce energy bills for thousands of Illinois families.”
If signed into law, Build Back Better would set the United States on a path to a 50-52% reduction in carbon pollution by 2030. That’s the same goal scientists say is necessary to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.
Time is running out, and Illinois needs all of our elected officials to support the Build Back Better Act.
As passed in the House, BBBA includes unprecedented investments to address the climate crisis, cut carbon pollution, deliver action on environmental justice, reduce home energy bills for working families, and create millions of good-paying union jobs, including:
Tax credits to create historic investments in wind and solar projects that will create thousands of good-paying union jobs building electricity generation capacity and reliability. BBB will speed CEJA’s requirement to completely decarbonize Illinois’ electricity sector by 2045
- Rebates to make it more affordable for middle-class and working families to install solar panels on their rooftops, complementing CEJA’s five-fold increase in state investment into community solar and other state initiatives to create more distributed generation of clean energy and reduce energy bills
- Help for working families to reduce their energy bills by making purchases of new high efficiency electric appliances, heat pumps and HVAC systems more affordable
- Tax credits to make electric vehicles more affordableThe climate investments reportedly total more than $550 billion – investments that will protect our environment and economy by cutting the carbon pollution that drives climate change.
The House vote is a major win for our health and environment made possible by years of advocacy and the growing power of younger people who have made climate change a policy priority.
Now is the time #ACTOnClimate. Build Back Better is a major step forward.
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info@ilcleanjobs.org