There’s an interesting article by Michelle Lewis at Electrek on Illinois’s plans to stop using fossil fuels:
February 15, 2022, update: In less than a half year, solar companies have installed more than 2,000 rooftop and community solar projects in the state, which is enough clean energy to power 30,000 homes, the Solar Energy Industries Association reported today.
Further, Illinois businesses are expected to complete more than 8,400 rooftop and community solar projects by the end of 2022, and the state’s solar workforce is expected to increase 47% by the end of the year.
Clean energy businesses reported that they have already expanded work on diversity, equity, and inclusion by recruiting from solar job training programs, creating internal committees focused on diversity, and hiring consultants and recruiters to guide their diversity efforts.
Data was provided by members of the Solar Energy Industries Association, Illinois Solar Energy Association and the Coalition for Community Solar Access, and the Illinois Power Agency.
September 15 update: Governor JB Pritzker today signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act into law today. In the new bill signed into law, the Prairie State coal plant will be required to cut its emissions by 45% by 2038, and to close altogether by 2045.
A bipartisan majority in the Illinois House has voted (83 yes to 33 no) to pass the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (SB2408).
Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL) will sign the historic clean energy bill tomorrow that will shut down all of the state’s fossil fuel plants by 2045. It also sets more aggressive targets for the dirtiest plants and those in environmental justice communities.
The bill includes spending $580 million per year to increase “clean energy”.
A couple of comments. First, to put those 30,000 homes into perspective, there are about 4 million homes in Illinois (that doesn’t count multi-family dwellings). Second, $580 million sounds like a lot but by the time it has run the gauntlet of politicians, politically-connected community organizations, and cronies, I’ll be surprised if there’s anything lef to spend on increasing clean energy.
If I was a cynic I’d say its all just feel good posturing, and providing gravy for the favored.
If I was a cynic.