CHICAGO — This morning, on the eve of legislative session, dozens of activists delivered petitions from 23,000 Illinois residents to Governor Pritzker’s Offices in Chicago and Springfield supporting the passage of the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) this spring. CEJA is a comprehensive bill that puts Illinois on a path to a carbon-free electric sector, lowers electricity costs, reduces pollution from transportation, protects communities, and creates equitable job opportunities in communities around Illinois.

Hundreds of volunteers and organizers worked throughout the year to talk to their neighbors about CEJA, and garner petition signatures in support of passing the bill. CEJA is currently the only energy bill in the General Assembly based on bottom-up feedback from communities across the state, collected through community dialogues in more than 50 different Illinois communities in 2018 that focused on energy, jobs, and the environment. These signatures, meanwhile, were collected throughout 2019 and show the widespread support that such a comprehensive and community-informed bill can gain.

Before the delivery, speakers emphasized the urgency of passing CEJA this spring. Illinois faces a perfect storm of environmental and economic crises that necessitate swift and bold legislative action. Speakers highlighted these crises and called on Gov. Pritzker to protect and strengthen Illinois communities by passing CEJA this spring:

Climate:

July 2019 was the hottest month in recorded history. This past year, all 102 counties in Illinois were declared agriculture disaster areas due to extreme weather, and just a few weeks ago, two Chicago beach fronts were destroyed in flooding.

Carla Wilson, a student at Harper Community College, volunteered to collect signatures with the Sierra Club, “Climate Change isn’t waiting for anyone. I am scared that for the rest of my life I’ll keep hearing and witnessing climate change threaten our home. I got involved in all of this because I am done with not having a voice in my future. We have to write to our leaders and express to them that Illinois isn’t going to sit back and let the worst happen.”

Just Transition:

This year, Vistra Energy abruptly shuttered four coal plants in Illinois, resulting in lost jobs and property tax

revenue in those communities. Dozens of towns and cities are now at risk, as corporations that have been polluting communities for decades cut and run. CEJA is the only comprehensive energy bill that proposes a just transition policy shaped by feedback from residents in coal communities. CEJA would help coal communities weather significant losses to their tax bases and creates incentives to direct new renewable energy development where it is most needed. CEJA also advances programs that prioritize good green jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities and programs that put wealth-producing assets in the hands of environmental justice communities and others too often left behind

Colin Byers of Clean Power Lake County said, “CEJA is about transforming who holds the power in Illinois and building a sustainable economy that works for everyone — not just utilities and out of state energy companies. It ensures this transition to 100% is just, helping to repair the legacies of pollution and divestment and delivering on the economic promise of clean energy.”

Stopping Trump Appointees Rate Hike:

Last month, Trump appointees on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a ruling that would force Illinois consumers to pay extra for electricity generated by coal and other dirty sources of power that aren’t needed to serve local demand. FERC’s order amounts to another massive bailout for coal and gas companies resulting in what could be the largest electric increase in Illinois history. Illinois can protect itself from these rules by passing CEJA this spring.

“The FERC ruling would slam northern Illinois consumers with an electric increase of up to $864 million a year,” said Christina Uzzo, environmental outreach coordinator for the Citizens Utility Board. “But the Clean Energy Jobs Act would shield consumers from these higher bills—and it includes ironclad consumer protections that guarantee cost savings for ComEd customers. We urge Springfield to pass CEJA, because it would empower the state to secure clean, affordable energy for all Illinois consumers.”

The Solar Cliff:

Three years ago the Future Energy Jobs Act fixed a broken renewable energy policy in the state, jumpstarting the industry after a seven-year stagnation. Unfortunately, because of limited renewable energy funds, that growth will lead to a bust in the renewable energy market, and put in jeopardy the new jobs and workforce efforts that have come with it.

“This funding gap means that the recent explosive growth of renewable energy in Illinois is about to plateau,” said John Delurey, Midwest Director for Vote Solar. “Less funding means less solar, and less solar means fewer benefits for Illinois residents, schools, churches, and businesses.”

Illinois faces huge challenges over the coming months, but CEJA presents an opportunity to confront all these challenges while improving day-to-day life for countless Illinoisans. This bill has garnered overwhelming grassroots support, because it was shaped by and for everyday Illinoisans.

“CEJA gives our state the opportunity to double down on our clean energy investment, lower energy costs and create even more safe, quality jobs in communities that need them most, while helping to build a healthier planet for all. SEIU members like me stand ready to help make CEJA a reality as we continue to fight for social justice on all fronts, along with the good, union jobs our communities need to thrive.” said Lena Frazier of SEIU Local 1.

The Clean Energy Jobs Act will:

• Aim for a carbon-free power sector by 2030, and provides financial and other assistance to environmental justice communities as well as communities and workers impacted by coal plant retirements;
• Move Illinois towards 100% renewable energy by 2050, attracting $39 billion in clean energy development;
• Develop transportation electrification to give Illinoisans access to cleaner and more affordable forms of transportation;
• Expand energy efficiency programs that have already cut utility bills by billions of dollars;
• Spark business development, workforce training and jobs so all Illinois residents can benefit from the clean energy

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) is a group of more than 200 organizations, businesses, and community leaders working together to advance clean energy jobs, lower energy bills, and healthier air and water. Visit

ilcleanjobs.org to learn more.

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