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Chicago Tribune
16 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Economic opportunities tied to climate goals, Gov. JB Pritzker says at Aspen conference
Gov. JB Pritzker shared his fears about the future of climate policy under President Donald Trump — and his thoughts on how Illinois can stick to its climate goals amid federal funding cuts — at a climate conference Monday night in Chicago. The Trump administration has enacted drastic funding and policy cuts across a range of sectors, largely targeting renewable energy incentives, scientific agencies and racial equity efforts. These cuts have left Illinois state lawmakers scrambling to fill budget holes, including a $771 million shortfall in funding for public transit that remains unresolved. During his remarks Monday night in an interview with ABC anchor Linsey Davis, Pritzker conceded these federal changes have put state and national climate goals at risk. Yet he maintained that Illinois has retained its ability to lead the Midwest in climate policy, emphasizing the importance of economic incentives to bring renewable energy and green technology to the state. 'If you want to accelerate the endeavor on climate action, you've got to make it understandable to everybody that there are jobs and economic opportunities available to them as a result of the change in our economy,' Pritzker said. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, passed by the Illinois legislature in 2021, has somewhat defined Pritzker's approach to making green development projects economically feasible. The watershed act set Illinois' goal of transitioning to renewable energy by 2050, established incentives for rooftop solar and electric vehicles and established clean energy workforce programs. Pritzker said that 70% of the state's current power mix comes from clean energy, though nuclear power accounts for the vast majority of this. Wind, solar and other renewables make up just below 14% of Illinois' power supply. Since CEJA's passage, the state has faced rising demand for electricity, leading to an increasingly unstable grid and consistent utility rate hikes. State legislators discussed passing another large energy bill this year that would have boosted energy storage and management for Illinois' electric grid. The bill did not pass this session, but Pritzker said that he is committed to passing a similar package next year. Though Pritzker recently announced that he will seek a third term as governor, many have speculated that he will throw his hat in the ring for the 2028 presidential election. Pritzker did not comment on a potential 2028 candidacy but when asked if he thought he'd make a good president, he said he thinks 'the bar has been set pretty low.' '(Democrats) still believe that the most important role that we have in government is to stand up for working families, for the most vulnerable, for the middle class,' he said. 'Do Democrats get it right all the time? No, and I think that it is as much a failure of messaging as anything else. I'm not suggesting that Democrats haven't gotten policies wrong. But let's not walk away from civil rights because we lost an election.' The discussion took place during the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, a three-day event that has brought hundreds of state and local leaders to Chicago to talk about climate policy, clean energy and environmentally friendly infrastructure. 'Illinois has one of the most ambitious climate goals of any state, and so I think (we) just feel very proud to be from here, and to have the event here,' said Kobi Weinberg, a co-founder of the conference's Chicago iteration and of the Chicago Climate Corps. 'It's not just trying to expand climate efforts here in Chicago but in the broader Midwest too.' This is the first year the Aspen conference has taken place in Chicago. It has been held in Miami since its inception in 2022. Pritzker issued a statement in February to announce the conference was coming to Chicago, touting Illinois as a regional innovator in climate policy and infrastructure. He also spoke at last year's conference in Florida. Sunrise Movement activists held a rally Sunday at the University of Chicago, where some events during the first day of the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference were held. They called on Pritzker and other state authorities to pass a 'Make Polluters Pay' act, which would require the fossil fuel industry — instead of taxpayers — to fund green, resilient infrastructure and disaster response in the face of climate change, following similar bills recently passed in Vermont and New York. Pritzker did not comment on the rally during Monday's discussion. Other speakers included Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and André Corrêa do Lago, president of United Nations climate conference COP30.
Chicago Tribune
09-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Audit finds state agency fell short on social equity initiatives outlined in Gov. JB Pritzker's landmark climate bill
Gov. JB Pritzker's economic development agency fell short in implementing elements of the governor's landmark climate bill aimed at ensuring social equity in the effort to move the state toward a carbon-free future, Illinois' auditor general said in a report released this week. From June 2022 to June 2024, the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity failed to implement programs designed to assist clean energy contractors in underserved areas and to deliver clean energy jobs training to people exiting Illinois prisons, two social equity elements that were part of one of the country's most ambitious climate bills, the audit found. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, or CEJA, outlines the Pritzker administration's plan for reaching 40% renewable energy by 2030 while also creating opportunities for workers from underserved groups. Christian Mitchell, the governor's pick as his running mate for next year's election, led negotiations on the law when he was a deputy governor in 2021. 'It's obviously frustrating when you see this legislation not make progress, and it's taken time to fully staff up the agencies and ensure those programs are on deck,' said Francisco Lopez Zavala, who leads workforce programs at the Illinois Environmental Council. 'But I continue to remain very positive.' The law contains many specific programs designed to bring climate job opportunities to workers from diverse backgrounds, but several fell short in the first years that the law was on the books, the audit said. For example, the law designates the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program as a 'central small business support program' to provide services including 'low-cost capital, training, mentorship' and networking at certain sites in Illinois communities, according to an October 2023 press release. Pritzker at that time said DCEO would award $21 million for the program. While the department said it selected some sites for awards, 'no grants were executed by the end of the examination period,' the audit said. DCEO has made progress in implementing CEJA since the time period covered by the audit, Lopez Zavala said, but applications for the incubator program remain under review, according to DCEO's website. The audit also found DCEO failed to administer a program to prepare people prior to their release from from Illinois prisons for work in the clean energy arena. Pritzker announced $6 million in funding for that program in February 2024. As with the contractor program, applications for the 'Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program' remain under review, according to DCEO's website. And a program for community-based organizations to receive funding as energy 'navigators' — providing outreach services to ensure vulnerable people know about job opportunities — didn't specifically prioritize grants to organizations that had experience serving people affected by climate change, as mandated by CEJA. The department said in a response included in the audit that it does look at capacity to serve communities 'most vulnerable to environmental injustices.' DCEO did not dispute the auditor's findings, according to the response included in the report. In some cases, the department indicated the delays in implementing CEJA initiatives were the result of 'necessary lead time' to administer the programs. Pritzker's office referred questions about the audit to DCEO. In its response to questions from the Tribune, DCEO spokesperson Jordan Troy said the department had made 'substantial progress on key initiatives sine the time of the audit.' 'CEJA established a first-of-its-kind statewide clean energy workforce and contractor development framework – one that required building entirely new infrastructure, partnerships, and delivery systems,' Troy said in an email. 'As with any new and ambitious effort, implementation has required deliberate planning, stakeholder collaboration, and foundational capacity-building to ensure long-term success and accountability.' Lopez Zavala attributed some of the issues confronting DCEO to hiring delays — a characterization that aligned with another part of the auditor's report — though he said the department has made additional progress this year. Apart from the findings on CEJA specifically, the auditor found the department had an excessive number of open jobs on its organizational chart. During the period the auditor examined, there were no employees filling half of the department's positions, the audit said. Department management said DCEO views the vacancies as placeholders and not necessarily jobs that they need to fill, as it can be difficult to establish new positions, the audit said. Still, the department has continued to make progress on Pritzker's signature bill, advocates said. DCEO didn't implement the part of the law on workforce hubs, a central part of the CEJA job training strategy, until after June 2024 even though the department received funding for the program during the audit period, according to the report. Several workforce hubs now exist and most of them have graduated at least one to three cohorts of 15 to 30 job seekers each, according to Hannah Flath, a spokesperson for IEC. In addition, DCEO said in its response to the Tribune that it has made 219 awards overall on CEJA, totaling more than $200 million, according to the department. Each part of the law takes time and effort to bring to life, as CEJA is a huge piece of legislation, advocates said. 'We're seeing (that) not only from the state agencies themselves like DCEO, acknowledging some of the initial faults that they had and addressing those by working hard to implement CEJA — and then also from our communities,' Lopez Zavala said. 'It takes time to train a lot of these folks who haven't had these opportunities in the past.'
Chicago Tribune
29-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Letters: Climate job training shows what we can accomplish at the state level
Even in today's extremely challenging times, there are places in Illinois where environmental justice is happening, as was beautifully told in the June 23 front-page article 'Clean energy job training offers hope: 'It's changed my life'' by Nara Schoenberg. Due to the game-changing law passed in 2021, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act workforce hub training classes are currently graduating many Black and brown students who are going on to well-paid clean-energy jobs. It is proof that we all must continue to fight and advocate for environmental justice here in Chicago and throughout the state. Due to the outrageous cuts to all clean energy work by the federal government, we must focus on what we can do at the local and state level. And sometimes, we just need to take a breath and look at what has already been accomplished and then keep Tribune's recent article on clean-energy job training rightly highlights the need for stronger career pathways for underserved communities and the importance of preparing Illinois' workforce for a climate-friendly future. We're proud that labor is not only part of this critical transition but also helping lead it. Illinois' landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) set a national example by tying climate action to economic justice, including the statewide network of workforce development programs that prioritize Black, Latino and other equity-eligible communities historically left out of energy careers. Crucially, it was Illinois' labor movement that helped secure landmark labor provisions in CEJA — including requirements for prevailing wages, project labor agreements and high-road labor standards for utility-scale projects — ensuring clean energy jobs are good jobs. These standards raise the bar for equity, quality and safety across the industry. Climate Jobs Illinois, in partnership with HIRE360 and unions across the state, is investing in clean energy workforce programs that open doors for equity-eligible communities. Backed by CEJA, these programs are more than job training — they're launching pads for long-term, family-sustaining careers in solar, wind, electric vehicle infrastructure and energy efficiency. Through the Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, participants receive: This is how Illinois makes a just transition real — by putting people to work in the communities that need it most, with the skills and protections to build and sustain the state's clean energy the June 27 Nation & World article 'Heat dome brings 'double whammy'': I never understand why politicians continue to ignore the facts when it comes to the health and well-being of American citizens. The evidence is overwhelming that links extreme heat and air pollution to climate change. As the article states: 'Researchers are worried about the twin health hazards of extreme heat and pollution, which can amplify each other. As climate change drives up global temperatures past record levels, the frequency of days when it is both hot and polluted has also been increasing.' As someone with respiratory issues, I live with this double whammy, and it's only gotten worse over the years as politicians ignore this fact. They pass energy policy that only worsens this impact. As the article points out, 'the (Donald) Trump administration is moving to weaken limits on emissions from power plants and cars, which could increase carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants. It is also encouraging more mining and burning of coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels.' The article also states: 'The World Health Organization estimates that outdoor and indoor air pollution combined cause 6.7 million premature deaths a year.' And: 'A 2023 analysis of more than 20 million deaths around the world found that hot days and days with bad air quality both resulted in higher-than-normal mortality rates. But periods in which heat and pollution are combined were even deadlier.' Don't Republican politicians care about people's health? Ironically, I recently sat in on a webinar given by a leading energy professor and scientist on the state of renewable energy, highlighting that we have the technology and know-how to reverse course on this double whammy. Unfortunately, it's apparent we don't have the will or desire to take appropriate action. As a result, I'll be forced to spend more time indoors this summer and future summers, suffering the consequences of these politicians' apathy toward human recent Tribune pieces — an article highlighting Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates' call to prioritize district contracts ('CTU president rebukes Trump administration, urges district to prioritize union contract,' June 24) and an op-ed co-written by CTU Vice President Jackson Potter advocating for increased funding for public education and transit ('Public education and transit benefit Chicagoans but aren't being fully funded,' June 24) — raise critical issues but miss the mark on solutions. Both suggest massive new spending, funded by higher taxes on Chicago and Illinois residents. While I agree that our public schools and transit system need significant improvements, I strongly disagree that more taxes are the answer. Chicago Public Schools already has sufficient funds to support its shrinking student population. With 47 schools operating at less than one-third capacity, consolidation could free up resources to enhance remaining schools, rather than burdening taxpayers further. Similarly, our transit system — the CTA, Pace and Metra — needs an overhaul, but not through costly projects like the $1 billion-per-mile Red Line expansion. Instead, merging these agencies into a single, efficient unit with unified fares and coordinated schedules could cut administrative costs and improve service. Chicago and Illinois don't have a taxing problem; we have a spending problem. Let's prioritize efficiency and innovation over endless tax CTA appears to be on life support and needs a new president who has extensive experience running mass transit systems, someone who actually rides the trains and buses, unlike the recently departed Dorval Carter Jr. and current members of the CTA board. The mayor claimed his administration conducted a national search for a CTA president but apparently didn't do that, according to the Tribune's June 20 edition ('Records show mayor didn't conduct formal national search for CTA head'). The mayor could install one of his cronies who has no experience in running a large transit agency like the CTA. That would be a big mistake at a time when the CTA needs solid, experienced I decided to study prelaw at the University of Illinois at Springfield, I knew the LSAT and, later, the bar exam would be serious hurdles. What I didn't expect was the cost of preparing for them. Quality LSAT prep courses can cost well over $1,000. That's not within reach for aspiring professionals. Thanks to the Prepare for Illinois' Future initiative, I didn't have to make that financial trade-off. This state-funded program gave me access to one of the top LSAT prep resources from Kaplan at no cost. The weekly classes, personalized feedback on practice exams and live tutor support helped me stay on track while working a part-time job. I was able to target the areas where I needed the most improvement, boosting both my score and my confidence. Improving my LSAT score isn't only about getting into my top-choice law school; it also positions me for scholarships that make that path financially viable. But this program was never just about one student or one test. It was about access. It was about removing financial barriers that hold back aspiring professionals from advancing in law, health care, education and other critical fields. That's why I'm disappointed to hear that the program hasn't been included in the next state budget. I urge lawmakers to reconsider. The value here isn't just academic — it's economic. Programs like this unlock talent that might otherwise go unrealized. Cost shouldn't decide who gets to pursue professional success in Illinois. Not now. Not ever.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockford hydroelectric project aims to power five homes with clean energy
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford-based company wants to harness the Rock River to produce energy to power homes. Latitude Power of Rockford partnered with design firm Studio GWA to create a pilot project that would use hydroelectric generators to create enough clean energy to supply electricity to five homes. 'Essentially, it takes wasted energy that's either flowing over a dam, or anywhere water is falling,' said Jared Cacciatore, Latitude Power co-founder. Rockford's Fordam dam will soon become the pilot program's test site, where a micro hydroelectric generator will be installed. 'We can take that water, that which is potential energy, and turn it into mechanical energy through a turbine and a generator, and then turn that into, you know, electrical energy,' Cacciatore said. Latitude Power received state funding through Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) to help develop the project. 'The company here won a nearly $1 million grant to produce hydroelectric power and uses the Rock River to generate electricity, which is a great concept. The Rock River has been a huge asset for this area, so it seems to be the next step in using this asset to generate clean power and provide electricity throughout the area,' said Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford). Latitude has already done smaller-scale testing, but moving to the Rock River means new challenges. 'It performs pretty, pretty well at the wastewater plant. But this is a new environment. It's a new, you know, there are new challenges. Will it will it be safe from vandalism? Will we be safe from other things we haven't thought of?' Cacciatore said. The company hopes the pilot project will generate enough electricity to power five homes. If successful, it plans to scale up from there. 'We want to help to help Rockford become a beacon of clean energy, a beacon of collaborative community involvement and advocacy for each other and for for the community and for the the greater good for the planet,' Cacciatore said. Once the grant funding is in place, Latitude hopes to have the project done within 18-20 months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IDOL recovers unpaid wages for workers on Saline County solar project
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has recovered over $85,000 in unpaid wages. The IDOL has recovered these unpaid wages for 17 workers that were employed on a construction project in Saline County. IDOL also recovered more than $17,000 in penalties from D&D Electric, LLC (D&D). Eggs sold at Walmart, other grocers in 9 states recalled amid salmonella outbreak 'Illinois law requires that employees on publicly funded projects be paid a fair wage for their skilled work,' said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. 'Making these workers whole reflects IDOL's commitment to enforcing the Prevailing Wage Act and holding employers accountable when they violate workers' rights.' IDOL says it began its investigation of the Harrisburg, Illinois-based contractor in 2024 for its work on a solar panel installation. The department says it determined D&D violated the State's Prevailing Wage Act by allegedly failing to properly classify workers and correctly compensate them for fringe benefits and overtime. IDOL explains the Prevailing Wage Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics employed on public works projects no less than the general prevailing rate of wages, which consists of hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits, for work of similar character in the locality where the work is performed. U.S. Supreme Court to hear Representative Bost's case on mail-in voting IDOl says the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) ensured that new clean energy construction jobs are also quality high-wage jobs by requiring that contractors pay prevailing wages for workers on projects receiving incentives through the Illinois Power Agency. Officials say if a worker believes they have not been properly compensated for work performed in Illinois, they can file a complaint online or call 312-793-2800 with questions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
