The push for clean energy in Illinois

Letter to the Editor by Don Dieckmann When the Dynegy-Vistra power plant in Wood River abruptly closed its doors in 2016, I anticipated the hardships Alton area communities would face as a result. I knew the plant’s closure would mean a loss of jobs, a drop in economic activity, and a struggle to address a…

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Locals gather to discuss how to save money on energy costs

by WICS/WRSP Staff Click here if the video fails to load. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Springfield residents gathered to talk about saving money on energy costs and clean energy legislation. It was lead by the Faith Coalition for the Common Good. The meeting featured a discussion program to help people save money on energy and…

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Solar technicians return to Peoria to put learned skills to use

By Rebecca Brumfield PEORIA, Ill. — ICC Solar Pipeline Training graduates are back home in Peoria putting their learned skills to work. These students first learned technical skills through the Tri-County Urban League. Sunpeak, a solar company out of Madison, Wisconsin, hired three Peoria grads who are working on the installation. A local graduate says…

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Spotlight: Jobs, equity and economic justice are at core of new Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act

By Andrew Barbeau and Christie Hicks Illinois has once again put itself at the forefront of the movement to promote a clean energy economy. Earlier this year, legislators including Sen. David Koehler, unveiled the Clean Energy Jobs Act (“Local advocates cheer state clean energy legislation,” Journal Star, Feb. 28), or CEJA, a groundbreaking bill that…

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Commentary: Now is the time to pass the next Illinois clean energy bill

By Andrew Barbeau and Christie Hicks It has been just over two years since Illinois enacted the groundbreaking Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), which set bold new goals for solar, wind and energy efficiency. Already, substantial gains from FEJA are being seen across the state. But, a just-completed lottery for renewable energy credits demonstrates that…

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Blackburn breaks ground on massive solar project

By Tom Emery CARLINVILLE – Optimism for the future abounds this week after Blackburn College broke ground on a state-of-the-art solar project. The $3 million, 2-megawatt solar array — which will be constructed on 8 acres of the northern part of the Blackburn campus — is expected to provide more than 80% of the school’s…

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OUR VIEW: Solar’s future gets brighter in Illinois

Lottery will boost state’s production, but more must be done to help community projects by Sauk Valley Editorial Board Solar power in Illinois took a big step forward with the Illinois Power Agency’s lottery held April 10 to award renewable energy credits to companies looking to bring their clean energy projects to the state. Whiteside…

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