By Connie Schmidt
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In the Springfield office of State Representative
Grant Wehrli (left) |
The
Clean Energy Jobs Act is our solution to many issues involving the transition
away from fossil fuels here in Illinois. In 2016, the Sierra Club along with
other enviros AND clean energy industry AND several utilities all worked
together to pass The Future Energy Jobs Act. That started the real transition
here in Illinois. Now we have introduced the CEJA and are trying to at least
quadruple the effect of the previous law as well as add some new benefits to
workers and citizens, such as more support for gas energy efficiency, a fossil
fuel workers “bill of rights” for job transition when plants are shuttered, far
more emphasis on clean transportation, as well as the
support for clean energy construction projects; including commercial, community,
and residential. One of the most pressing components of CEJA is to fix a
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision that only supports Fossil
Fuel industry for funds assessed to customers for peaker power plants. CEJA allows Illinois
to use its FERC funds for clean energy and some nuclear to help transition
away from ONLY fossil fuels, which is the FERC requirement. CEJA is a big ask! And it is more complicated
this time because Solar installation industry created their own bill, which
focuses only on funding Clean Energy projects, and none of the other areas
mentioned above in CEJA. Legislators are hearing from both factions AND from
the fossil fuel industry, which of course has their own lobbyists and asks. So
in January and February, there was little movement.
Then
came our Lobby Day on March 4. Many of
you were no doubt there as nearly 700 participants crowded the rotunda carrying
signs and cheering for the myriad of speakers supporting CEJA. Buses came from all over the state with young
and gray-hair enthusiasts anxious to meet with legislators to deliver talking
points supporting our clean energy transition. It was a very successful day for
“The good guys”!
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With State Representative Deb Conroy (right)
outside the House Chamber in Springfield |
Following
Lobby Day we were thrilled that the governor convened some bipartisan working
groups of members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, industry, and
environmental organizations. The hope was that some form of CEJA may be
rewritten to combine needs of the installers as well. They met only briefly,
then the pandemic struck and all was canceled to support the safety and
survival of Illinois residents.
We
are all still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 virus that has gripped not
only Illinois but also the entire globe. Many companies and businesses have
shuttered; however, others have taken to virtual meetings on a variety of
platforms like Zoom and Google Hangouts. Unfortunately, the Illinois State legislature has no statute for how to
meet in such a situation so the governor has been forced to focus on the
pandemic, and the legislators are focused on supporting their constituents with
rent and utility bill relief, and any other issues have been left in the dust.
Hopefully, the state legislature will be back in session, with some changes of
course, later this fall. But for two issues encompassed within CEJA, waiting is
devastating. First, any changes to the
national FERC order (how we fund our peaker needs for power) must happen by
June 1. At the time of writing this, we
are in full swing asking to move that date back to fall, but there is no change
yet. In addition, the pool of funds
supporting the clean energy projects from FEJA is running out and will be empty
by the fall. This could mean huge
layoffs in workers for energy efficiency supported projects as well as
residential, commercial, and community solar projects.
At
the writing of this article in early May, some work groups are starting to
convene, and a huge campaign has just been launched to encourage a postponement
of the FERC decision. Individual groups
across Illinois are continuing to raise interest. The River Prairie Group held a joint Zoom
informational call with CUB (Citizen’s Utility Board) to inform members of
energy efficiency projects and solar installation that can take place quickly
now in order to receive state incentives. Other than that, we are on hold.
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In the Springfield office of State Senator
Suzy Glowiak-Hilton (center) |
But
Climate Change is not on hold, and the need for us to make changes in our
behavior patterns is great. Yes, with decreased transportation emissions, our
skies are cleaner, but remember that this is temporary. Creatures great and
small are scurrying forward without a concern for physical distancing, but the
need to continue to protect their habitat is significant as the
administration’s greed for the earth’s finite resources is ever present. Our
waters are clear and hosting aquatic life not seen for years, yet the threat of
boat traffic will be ramping up with relaxed pandemic cautions, and the
pollution and debris will soon return. Our work is pivoted now to help our
local communities survive with housing, utility relief, and food sourcing, but
we will return to our causes, and hopefully we will be stronger than ever. AND
Clean Energy in Illinois will be at the top of our list!
To
get involved with the DuPage Clean Energy Coalition drop a note to: dupagecleanenergy@gmail.com.
As of May 26, the Illinois Budget has been passed by the
Illinois House and Senate, and is expected to be signed by the governor. It
does not include support for CEJA. We are disheartened; however, we are
counting on the veto session in the Fall for movement. Join the conversation
with the DuPage Clean Energy Coalition for more information. (See contact above.)
All told there are well
over 400 different species in this nature preserve, and it is vast. It is
not a hard hike: relatively flat, with several miles of trials, in both prairie
and oak savanna. Bring water and a big hat if it’s sunny, and wear long pants
and boots.
