Fighting for a Greener Future
Climate change is undeniably and rapidly affecting our lives on a local and global scale. With the Trump administration’s blatant attempt to sabotage the progress our country has made, the Illinois General Assembly must step up and shape the future of renewable energy for Illinois.
Our community cherishes the environment, and my record to protect it speaks for itself. The 12th district is known for its abundant greenery and beauty of Lake Michigan which serves as the backdrop of the district we call home.
I have always received a 100% voting record from the Illinois Environmental Council and the Sierra Club. In 2016, I co-sponsored the Future Energy Jobs Bill, which creates clean jobs in Illinois and continues to shift our state toward renewable energy. We have ample opportunities for Illinois to lead the way by expanding clean energy entrepreneurship, workforce development, and move to 100% renewable energy.
Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019 (HB 3624)
To further ensure environmental justice, HB 3624 will put the state on an equitable path toward 100% renewable energy by 2050 and emphasize community-based incentives for creating wind and solar energy, specifically in low-income communities.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act cuts carbon from the energy sector by 2030 and moves to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The bill also reduces the state’s dependence on gas and diesel vehicles in public transportation and creates clean jobs by investing in Illinois’s electric and transit sectors.
This bill will directly impact the quality of life and health of all Illinoisians. Reducing CO2 emissions will finally begin to lower rates of diseases like asthma, which disproportionately affects communities most at risk. The Clean Energy Jobs Act makes critical strides in preserving Illinois’s collective health and wellbeing, as carbon emissions move to zero.
The Great Lakes contain approximately 20% of the entire world’s fresh water, and while we are lucky to have Lake Michigan as a resource, preserving access to clean drinking water in Chicago and throughout Illinois must be a priority.