Earth Day was celebrated with purpose in Illinois in mid-April. On April 22, over 500 community members, activists, environmentalists, state legislators, and leaders gathered at the state capitol in Springfield to encourage Illinois Congress members to protect the environment and create clean energy jobs. At the heart of this rally was the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill.
The Clean Jobs Bill came about as a result of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, which proposes to states across the country to significantly cut their carbon emissions, responding to the ever-increasing threat of human-made climate change. The purpose of this Bill is exactly what it states -- to create more jobs in Illinois that produce clean, renewable energy. But it goes far beyond that. This bill not only has the potential to create over 32,000 new jobs in the state annually, but also reduces the energy demand by 20 percent, increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 35 percent by 2030, and by that same year, saves the state of Illinois around $1.6 billion in energy costs.
As a result, Earth Day seemed like a perfect day to push this important bill. On a relatively sunny day in Springfield, hundreds of Illinoisans, along with several legislative co-sponsors of the bill, gathered in front of the Capitol Building to support the bipartisan bill. Toting signs calling for clean energy -- ranging from solar, to wind, to other clean energy jobs, dozens spoke in front of the large crowd, advocating for HB 2607/SB1485.
Among the legislators was co-sponsor and State Senator Dave Koehler. “I support the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill because I see it as an unprecedented opportunity to address the needs of the Illinois economy, a top priority for the people I represent in Central Illinois,” he says to the crowd. “The Illinois Clean Jobs Bill also benefits the environment and the legacy we pass down to our children and grandchildren.”
And we’re not alone in this support. As of Earth Day, over 70 individual businesses and 30 organizations like the Sierra Club have joined together to encourage the state of Illinois to promote clean air, water, jobs, and lives. And though the sun has set on Earth Day, we will continue to strive for a better, more healthy world. To learn more, please visit ilcleanjobs.org.