Statement of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) Regarding SCOTUS Decision on West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency

ICJC: The Supreme Court put profits before people. Illinois must quickly implement CEJA to cut costs, create jobs, and protect our communities.

CHICAGO – Following today’s announcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling in West Virginia v. EPA, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition urged swift state action:

“The Supreme Court of the United States has taken another giant step backwards, this time gutting the federal government’s ability to protect our communities from the rising costs and mounting dangers of air pollution and climate change.

“Rather than protect people, our nation’s highest court sided with fossil fuel companies and far-right politicians who put corporate profits ahead of the health of seniors and children who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments. This decision also rewards those companies who are price-gouging consumers already under financial stress, all while reporting record profits.

“This ruling makes it imperative for Illinois to quickly and completely implement the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which is already cutting costs for millions of Illinois consumers and small businesses, creating thousands of equitable, good-paying clean energy jobs, and replacing dirty, expensive coal and gas with clean, cheap renewable energy.”

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The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is made up of more than 200 consumer, business, environmental, environmental justice, health care, faith-based and student organizations.