Advocates calling for passage of bills that accelerate clean energy and fix and fund public transit
Springfield, IL — Hundreds of community leaders, environmental advocates, faith leaders, business representatives, consumer groups, and state legislators rallied at the Illinois State Capitol today to call on lawmakers to pass critical climate bills in the October veto session, including the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25), which protects consumers from utility bill price spikes while accelerating Illinois’ clean energy progress, and legislation that invests $1.7 billion in safer, cleaner, more reliable public transit (HB3438 and SB2111).
The same advocates rallying at the Capitol today to pass the CRGA Act were instrumental in the passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021, which created a roadmap to protect consumers amid the rapidly changing energy market. Now, new challenges have emerged that are increasing costs for consumers. Energy-intensive data centers are driving up energy demand, regional transmission organizations PJM and MISO have lagged connecting cost-effective clean energy projects to the grid, and the Trump administration is actively rolling back climate and consumer protections. The CRGA Act builds off of the success of CEJA and offers antidotes to these new challenges.
“Lawmakers have a clear choice to make – we can do nothing, and allow Illinois consumers to continue paying extraordinarily high costs that go primarily to energy corporations with expensive, inefficient, and dirty power plants, or we can pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act this October and invest in the most cost-effective energy resources our grid needs: battery storage, wind, solar, and energy efficiency,” said Representative Ann Williams. “By taking decisive action to grow these resources, we can save Illinoisans billions of dollars, build on the progress of CEJA, and continue growing Illinois’ clean energy economy.”
The CRGA Act makes cost-effective investments in battery storage to make our power grid more resilient and reduce costs for consumers from volatile energy markets, gives consumers tools to reduce their utility bills, and strengthens the power grid by promoting improvements to transmission infrastructure and reducing bottlenecks in the process to develop and improve transmission lines. The bill ensures Illinois can continue its legacy of strong, equitable climate policy that prioritizes workers.
“CEJA turned promises of equity into real pathways for opportunity for Equity Eligible Contractors like me who now have a fair shot at clean energy jobs, contracts, and careers that build generational wealth,” said Chris Williams, owner of Millennium Solar Electric, Inc. “Passing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act will ensure that Illinois continues to build on the progress and promise of CEJA. It will create thousands of family-supporting clean energy careers, strengthen our electric grid, and help heal our environment.”
Advocates are also working to pass legislation that implements long-overdue transit funding and reforms to establish a regional agency capable of delivering the safe, reliable, and frequent transit system riders deserve. The legislature must pass these reforms and invest $1.7 billion annually in transit to prevent catastrophic service cuts, cause massive congestion, and exacerbate air and climate pollution.
“Public transit continues to be a vital part of all of our communities across Illinois as it works to connect people to opportunities, health care, education, work and more,” said State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). “I am grateful to have passed House Bill 3438 through the Senate ─ a package of robust reforms and a $1.7 billion transformational investment into our public transit systems across the state that will ensure every resident has access to safe, reliable, affordable and integrated public transit.”
The monumental reforms in SB2111 and HB3438 would improve safety and rider experience, better integrate service across Metra, Pace, and the CTA including one fare to ride the whole system, and increase the frequency and speed of service across the region. These proposals include a $1.5 billion investment in transit for the Chicagoland region and a $200 million investment in downstate Illinois’ transit agencies.
“Public transit is essential to the daily lives of working families across Illinois and it is time to fix and fund our system,” said State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado. “I am grateful that advocates are continuing to make their voices heard and stand with them as we get a safe, reliable, and fully funded transit system across the finish line.”
“People are the heart of the campaign for public transit, and people are calling for these reforms and funding NOW,” said Dany Robles, Legislative Relations Director with the Illinois Environmental Council. “While transit agencies may want to kick the can down the road, the people who use our systems every day know that transit can’t wait. It’s time to build a world-class transit system for the people of Illinois – not just in Chicago, but in the suburbs and across downstate Illinois as well.”
During the lobby day in conjunction with today’s rally, advocates also delivered thousands of petitions in support of SB1531, legislation to phase out polystyrene foam foodware containers in Illinois. Single-use plastics like these containers make up some of the worst plastic pollution – toxic items made to be used for only a few minutes, but are not biodegradable or recyclable. These plastic foam containers are a lifeline for the worst climate offenders – the oil and gas industry – who burn fossil fuels in the manufacturing of these plastic items.
“We must pass SB1531, legislation to phase out polystyrene foam foodware containers, so that we don’t pass down a mountain of plastic pollution and an ever-warming climate to future generations,” said Ann Ridge, volunteer with the Coalition for Plastic Reduction. “Polystyrene is among the worst of the worst single-use plastics. It’s toxic to people and wildlife, not actually biodegradable or recyclable, and keeps the worst oil and gas climate offenders in business.”
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About IEC: Since 1975, the Illinois Environmental Council has worked to safeguard Illinois—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends by building power for people and the environment. Representing over 130 environmental organizations in the state, IEC carries out its mission to advance equitable public policies that create healthy environments across Illinois through education, advocacy, and movement building.