The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), known as Senate Bill 2132 and House Bill 3624, is a comprehensive package of clean energy legislation that was introduced before the Illinois General Assembly in February 2019. It has yet to be passed into law.
CEJA is expected to ramp up renewable energy development in Illinois, save consumers money on their energy bills, and create more accountability for utility companies operating in Illinois.
CARE is encouraging everyone to write to Governor Pritzker, their state senator, and their state representative to urge them to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act legislation in Illinois. We need to do everything we can so that CEJA becomes a reality!
The following letter was submitted by CARE member Joe Turrise to Governor Pritzker.
Governor J.B. Pritzker
Office of the Governor
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph 16-100
Chicago, IL 60601
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Governor Pritzker,
I am retired, and was a lead machinist for Kraft Foods, Chicago Bakeries. I was born in and lived in Illinois my entire life, with the exception of my time spent in the United States Army. I am a member of the Homer Glen Environment Committee, Will County Citizens Against Ruining the Environment, and the Sierra Club.
I voted for you and have supported you. Now I am asking you to support the Clean Energy Jobs Act (Senate Bill 2132/House Bill 3624).
The reasons I am asking you to support this bill are:
1 | My wife and two of my three daughters have asthma. A few years ago, my wife had an asthma attack and was rushed by ambulance to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. She was put on a ventilator and kept in the ICU for six days. CEJA would improve air quality and it would also reduce the risk and susceptibility to Covid-19.
2 | It would put Illinois on the path to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and cut carbon emissions significantly by 2030.
3 | It would create good paying jobs, with benefits like health insurance for employees and their families, and a retirement package for their senior years.
I recall in my younger days being laid off from my employer. I went out looking for new employment on a Friday. At the end of the day, I was told by eight employers that I could start working at a competitive wage with their company the following week on Monday. Jobs were plentiful. Today, those companies are no longer there.
The Kraft Foods plant I was employed at for thirty-two years was originally Nabisco. The plant opened in 1952. I began my employment there in 1976. There were 4,600 people employed there at that time, all with a decent paying job and good benefits. Today, I am told there are only 300 people at the plant. There was a time when people moved to Illinois because of jobs. For the past decade now, they are leaving the state.
Governor Pritzker, I strongly recommend that you support the Clean Energy Jobs Act.
Cordially,
Joseph Turrise
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