Statement of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition on MISO Approval of Transmission Upgrades

CHICAGO – On Monday, Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) released the following statement after the MISO board meeting:

“Today’s action to increase grid reliability and integrate more renewable energy and battery storage in MISO North is a desperately-needed positive step, but MISO must act faster to speed the conversion from dirty, expensive fossil fuels to clean, less expensive renewables. That starts with moving much more quickly to approve 34 solar and wind projects presently sitting in MISO’s queue. These renewable energy projects will generate more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 4.5 million homes.

“If Ameren customers ever find themselves in the dark, MISO’s past inaction is to blame. Now, they must move faster to approve these renewable energy projects that will bring down prices and improve grid reliability.”

Last week, Illinois legislative leaders and consumer advocates held a news conference about MISO’s inaction. Video of the event is available on the ICJC’s Facebook page here.

 

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The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) is made up of more than 200 climate groups, healthcare professionals, environmental justice champions, businesses, community leaders, labor unions, consumer advocates, faith-based and student organizations.

Following ICJC’s central role in the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, the diverse coalition spent more than three years organizing and holding more than 100 “Listen. Lead. Share.” events to gather feedback and policy ideas from residents across Illinois. The work centered around a simple but urgent rallying cry: CEJA can’t wait.

The wait ended on September 15, 2021 when Governor JB Pritzker signed into law the most equitable clean energy jobs bill of its kind in the nation: the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).

Visit ilcleanjobs.org to learn more.