Illinois – Hundreds of community leaders, environmental advocates, faith leaders, business representatives, consumer groups, students, and state legislators rallied in the Illinois State Capitol Building today in support of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) Platform. This suite of legislation will ensure Illinois accelerates our climate progress while also responding to new and increasing threats from oil and gas interests at the federal level buoyed by the incoming anti-climate Trump administration.
The rally, which was part of a special Lobby Day during the lame duck legislative session, served as a powerful demonstration of grassroots support for key bills outlined in the ICJC Platform. These measures include the Clean and Reliable Grid Act (SB3637), the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act (SB3936/HB5829), and the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act (SB3935/HB5835). Together, this legislation represents a concerted effort to accelerate Illinois’ commitment to advancing comprehensive climate, equity, and clean energy goals.
“As we grapple with what the upcoming second Trump administration will mean for the future of our climate, it’s more important than ever that we’re able to invest in real change right here in Illinois,” said Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “The policies in the ICJC Platform present Illinois with an opportunity to do just that. The Clean and Reliable Grid Act, Clean and Equitable Transportation Act, and Clean and Healthy Buildings Act are powerful policies that will accelerate our climate progress in Illinois while also allowing us to fight federal attempts to dismantle foundational environmental protections.”
Throughout the event, state legislators and community leaders underscored the urgency of enacting meaningful climate policies as we prepare for an increase in attacks on climate progress from the federal government.
“Illinois must continue to be a beacon of clean energy progress, particularly as we face another Trump administration,” said House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel. “To do that, we must once again take bold action to strengthen and transform our power grid to replace expensive and polluting fossil fuel plants, to power our electric vehicles as we electrify the transportation sector and our heat pumps as we electrify our buildings. We’ll pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Act to do just that.”
Representative Robyn Gabel, Senator Bill Cunningham, the ICJC, and other stakeholders have been working on this legislation, which builds off of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and takes the next steps needed to prepare our grid to power Illinois’ entire economy with clean energy. The Clean and Reliable Grid Act (SB3637) will maximize Illinois’ energy efficiency policies, remove barriers to clean energy deployment, and strengthen energy efficiency.
“Bold action is needed to meet our power sector challenges, and the Clean and Reliable Grid Act, which I’m proud to sponsor, offers common-sense solutions to strengthen our power grid, insulate consumers from volatile energy price spikes, and achieve the commitments we’ve made thus far on climate,” said Senator Bill Cunningham. “I urge my colleagues to keep working to pass this comprehensive bill in the Spring legislative session.”
The Clean and Reliable Grid Act will help build a clean energy grid that replaces expensive and polluting fossil fuel plants, powers our electric vehicles as we electrify the transportation sector, and powers our heat pumps as we electrify buildings.
The Clean and Equitable Transportation Act (CETA) is a nation-leading package of comprehensive transportation and jobs bills that work together to provide Illinoisans clean, affordable, and equitable transportation options.
“I’m proud to lead the fight for CETA in the Senate, a legislative package making up a comprehensive vision for a transformed, electrified transportation sector that invests in sustainable, affordable, and equitable active modes of transportation,” said State Sen. Ram Villivalam. “Seventy-one percent of the state’s entire population live in areas that regularly experience air deemed unsafe to breathe by the EPA. Illinoisans lack the transportation options they need and deserve, and this sector is warming our climate at an alarming rate. We need transportation electrification and reform now.”
CETA tackles electrification through the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act and reforms our transportation sector. The Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act implements long overdue transit governance and funding reforms for Northeast Illinois with statewide benefits (SB3937/HB5823).
“Every single Illinoisan wants and deserves sustainable, reliable, affordable, and frequent access to transportation that safely connects them to opportunities, amenities and thriving communities,” said State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado. “The Metropolitan Mobility Act is a major step forward for policymakers to catch up to what the vast majority of Illinois voters want– one better-functioning, more efficient, more effective transit agency that provides seamless apps, seamless schedules, and one seamless fare. And make no mistake, legislative leaders here in Springfield are clear: there will be no additional funding to transit agencies without reform.”
CETA also expands transportation infrastructure that supports active modes of transportation like walking and biking.
“For too long, Illinois has not adequately invested in our transportation system, leaving Illinoisans with far too few choices to get around and increasing the number of cars on the road because they can’t rely on public transit or active modes of transportation,” said Kyle Lucas, executive director of Better Streets Chicago. “This historic disinvestment has consequences, evident everywhere you go in Illinois. The Transportation Choices Act is smart, commonsense legislation that lays the foundation for the transformative change that all Illinoisans deserve — that means clean and healthy air, safe streets, and the freedom that REAL choice in how we get around offers. And with the absence of federal leadership, it is more critical than ever that our State legislators lead us boldly into that future.”
Lastly, the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act requires gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to embed affordability into ratemaking and decision-making, and helps people lower their gas bills through gas energy efficiency standards.
“People across Illinois struggle to pay their gas bills, often choosing between buying groceries and heating their homes while gas utilities continue to make record-setting profits on toxic methane gas,” said Madeline Semanisin, clean buildings advocate with NRDC. “We must reduce pollution in our buildings and begin a managed transition away from dirty, expensive gas to more affordable, clean energy solutions now. We can’t afford to wait to pass the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act.”
As the Trump administration works to destroy the federal progress on clean energy, it’s all the more critical that Illinois lawmakers take decisive action in 2025 by passing the policies in the ICJC Platform. Together, the bills in the ICJC Platform protect consumers and our climate.
To view coverage of today’s rally and press conference, click here.
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