The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition–including CUB, One Northside, and Illinois People’s Action–now supports Senate Bill 2814, the Future Energy Jobs Bill, after months of hard work improving the legislation.
CUB is pleased with a provision in the bill that would push energy efficiency standards to historic levels in Illinois, helping to spark tens of thousands of jobs and at least $4 billion in consumer savings. (Tell the General Assembly you support efficiency!)
The coalition has released this statement:
“We as a coalition are firmly committed to acting on the urgent need to create thousands of clean jobs and spur needed investment in the state, cut energy bills for consumers and respond to the growing threats of climate change. We are especially pleased to have found common ground with ComEd and Exelon to fund at least $750 million in investments in low-income communities, finally fix the state’s broken Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to spur private capital investments in wind and solar projects, and boldly expand energy efficiency standards, a key reason Illinois has the lowest electric rates in the Midwest.
“As with any compromise bill, our coalition is not pleased with every detail. But we are united in the belief that Illinois urgently needs to modernize our energy policy so we stop losing clean energy jobs and other benefits to more innovative states. We believe this bill can be a strong step toward our goals of creating thousands more clean jobs, cutting electric bills and cleaning the air we all breathe. We urge the General Assembly and Gov. Rauner to pass and support the Future Energy Jobs Bill during the veto session.”
