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As People’s Gas announces record-high profits and prices, coalition calls for immediate action to lower consumer utility bills while protecting the climate
CHICAGO – After more than a year of stakeholder engagement and participation of more than 50 community, building industry, and environmental justice leaders in the Chicago Building Decarbonizing Policy Development Working Group, the City of Chicago released 26 recommendations to set Chicago on an equitable path to decarbonize buildings in every neighborhood. The report can be read here. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) released the following statement in support of the report, urging swift action to realize its goals:
“With People’s Gas announcing record profits as they charge record-high prices, eliminating dirty, expensive fossil fuels to heat new buildings while ramping down energy usage in existing buildings is a win-win. These recommendations will save homeowners, business owners, and renters money on their utility bills by moving away from gas, which is subject to corporate price-gouging and global events like Putin’s war in Ukraine.
“This bold update will also ensure that Chicago’s buildings do not contribute to pollution and global warming, and creates a generation of good jobs building a cleaner, safer energy system. ICJC applauds Mayor Lightfoot for taking these critical steps to lower costs, create equitable, good-paying jobs, and protect the climate. We urge swift action to achieve Clean Buildings, Clean Air for all.”
70% of Chicago’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings.
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The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) is made up of hundreds of environmental advocacy organizations, businesses, community leaders, consumer advocates, environmental justice groups, and faith-based and student organizations working together to improve public health and the environment, protect consumers, and create equitable, clean jobs across the state. After more than three years of community organizing and policy leadership, in 2021, ICJC was instrumental in helping pass the nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).
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