Wow! Illinois introduced a shiny new clean energy bill this week! Great work @ClimateJobsIL

The bill would create a ton of union jobs with a focus on underrepresented communities...and it could save the state's struggling nuclear plants! https://wsiltv.com/2021/03/29/state-lawmakers-unions-present-clean-energy-bill-to-improve-illinois-save-nuclear-jobs/

There is a TON of great stuff in this bill! Let's start with the nuclear plants.
The #ClimateUnionJobsAct creates $74 mill MWh carbon mitigation credits for zero-emission facilities like nuclear plants. This could protect 28k jobs at the 4 nuclear plants at-risk of closing early.

The loss of all four nuclear plants would wipe out all of the progress Illinois has made to reduce emissions since 2005 and then some! So this would be a BIG win for workers and the climate!

A couple of other things to highlight..

21 of the 28 wind farms being built in Illinois are non-union - as are 40 out of the 61 solar projects.

The #ClimateUnionJobsAct would transform these numbers and require projects using state funds to deliver for union workers.

The #ClimateUnionJobsAct calls for a displaced energy workers Bill of Rights that would require advanced notice for power plant closures, and cover full-tuition scholarships for Illinois colleges or trade schools for those workers.

Oh...and laid-off employees could also receive two years of health insurance coverage!

Lawmakers would also provide an annual $50 mill to help schools go carbon-free. This could help 3,330 public schools across the state, and save them billions in operational expenses!

And...it would convert school buses to electric over the next 5 years!

AND...the bill would provide $50 mill for programs building an equitable and inclusive workforce. It would REQUIRE renewable energy developers to report on workforce diversity, and if they don't meet standards, they must develop an action plan to get there.