Updates

By Charity Bell | WGEM “Solar energy technology is coming to John Wood Community College. The college has received two grants from the Illinois Green Economy Network to install energy-conserving solar panels. President Mike Elbe says they were granted around $465,000 from the Illinois Green Economy Network to fund this project at JWCC’s Workforce Development…

By Dan Brannan | River Bender SPRINGFIELD – In March before the coronavirus shutdown, Alton students participated in a lobby day hosted by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) in Springfield. The day was made possible due to the support ACES 4 Youth organization in Alton received from Alton Superintendent, Mark Cappel, Assistant Superintendent, Kristie…

There are many reasons to support the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) to protect our country and the rest of the world, but this is a personal economic benefit we have had under the precursor to CEJA. In December we had 21 solar panels activated on our townhouse roof at no cost to us. We…

By Editorial Board | Chicago Sun-Times Electricity bills will shoot up for ratepayers, job opportunities would be lost and the environment would suffer enormous harm if the Legislature doesn’t act. The coronavirus pandemic has pushed many issues state lawmakers are facing to the back burner. The price of electricity shouldn’t be one of them. ……

By Mary Helt Gavin | The Evanston Roundtable Robyn Gabel has electrifying plans: The State Representative from the 18th District says she would like to see trains all across the State run on electricity, require all new home construction or major renovations include an electric-vehicle charging station, and expand the production and use of electric-powered…

Mike Miletich | WGEM Springfield, IL – Illinois lawmakers are working on two major proposals this session to invest more in renewable energy and reduce the state’s current carbon footprint. The Clean Energy Jobs Act and Path to 100 bills were introduced last year. With Gov. JB Pritzker calling clean energy a top priority, legislators have a renewed push…

By ERIC STOCK & CHARLIE SCHLENKER | WGLT/NPR from ISU Green energy advocates are pushing Illinois lawmakers to back a plan to wean the state off fossil fuels by 2050. Dawn Dannenbring is the environmental justice organizer with Illinois People’s Action, a group that supports the proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act. “Climate change is here,…

By SAM DUNKLAU | NPR Illinois Electricity and environmental advocates offered their pitches to Illinois state senators this week on how to reduce a portion of the state’s carbon emissions. But each group has different ideas about how to do it. Illinois’ electricity industry is one of the worst in the nation when it comes…

Letter to the Editor | Chicago Tribune A growing number of states have adopted sweeping new climate legislation that will result in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by or before 2050, but so far Illinois lags behind. At present only 8% of our energy comes from renewable sources with a goal of reaching 25% by 2025.…

David Kolata | Energy News Network Illinois must have been doing something right on clean energy for President Trump’s appointees to step in and try to stop it. That’s exactly what they did late last year when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a ruling that would slam northern Illinois with up to $864…