State Could Transition To Green Energy By 2050 Under New Bill

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — A bill that would set Illinois on a path to 50 percent renewable energy by 2040 and 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 passed the state senate on Wednesday, state Sen. Adriane Johnson announced.

The Energy Transition Act, which now heads to the house, would also mandate that municipally-owned coal- and natural gas-fired power plants reduce their carbon emissions to zero by 2045, Johnson's office said in a news release.

To assist workers and communities impacted by the transition to clean energy, the bill would "create a number of support programs," Johnson's office said.

It would also implement "specific programs and incentives" for low-income communities, communities of color and justice-involved people, which would ensure "more equitable access to the clean energy economy," according to the news release.

New wind and solar installations statewide are expected to create thousands of jobs, and state-run workforce development programs would help prepare the current energy workforce for long-term, good-paying careers in green energy, the news release said.

"This legislation is an important first step in Illinois’ transition to clean energy," Johnson said in a statement. "Investing in communities that have historically borne the brunt of climate change and putting safety nets in place for displaced power plant workers will help set the stage for a more equitable energy sector that puts people – not fossil fuel companies – first."