{"id":9352,"date":"2014-12-12T12:16:45","date_gmt":"2014-12-12T17:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=9352"},"modified":"2014-12-12T12:16:45","modified_gmt":"2014-12-12T17:16:45","slug":"illinois-legislators-pledge-support-for-epas-proposed-carbon-regulations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2014\/12\/12\/illinois-legislators-pledge-support-for-epas-proposed-carbon-regulations\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Legislators Pledge Support for EPA\u2019s Proposed Carbon Regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dick Munson,<\/a>\u00a0Director, Midwest Clean Energy, Environmental Defense Fund<\/em><\/p>\n

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sorts through the more than 1.6 million comments<\/a> received on its proposed Clean Power Plan<\/a> (CPP), one group is stepping out to pledge its support of the landmark proposal. 53 Illinois legislators recently signed a letter<\/a>\u00a0urging the EPA to finalize the plan, which will set limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants for the first time ever.<\/p>\n

Power plants currently account for nearly 40 percent of the nation\u2019s carbon pollution and Illinois\u2019s proposed target would result in a 33 percent reduction in the state\u2019s carbon output by 2030. Fortunately, due to impressive state efforts to invest in clean energy over the past few years, Illinois is well-positioned to meet the challenge.<\/p>\n

CPP is an economic opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Illinois legislators argue the CPP will help the state \u201cachieve even greater cuts in our emissions, health benefits for all our citizens, and will spur further growth in our state\u2019s economy.\u201d The CPP will further the state\u2019s transition to a clean energy economy by attracting investment in innovation, creating more jobs, and keeping electricity prices affordable.<\/p>\n

Illinois is already home to nearly 100,000 clean energy jobs, and that number is expected to grow nine percent this year. To put that into perspective, the clean energy sector is roughly equal to the size of the state\u2019s real estate and accounting industries combined.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the state\u2019s energy efficiency standard, established in 2008, has already saved consumers nearly a billion dollars.<\/p>\n

Illinois supports the EPA, clean energy<\/strong><\/p>\n

These members of the General Assembly said the EPA has both the clear authority as well as the responsibility to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Unlike some states that have reacted to the plan with the-sky-is-falling predictions<\/a>, Illinois state leaders \u201cpledge to work with both U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA to ensure we have a strong plan that works for Illinois to reduce carbon emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n

This kind of support is a clear choice for Illinoisans; clean energy is popular in the Land of Lincoln. Hart Research found<\/a>\u00a0a whopping majority of Illinois voters \u2013 71 percent \u2013 support EPA enforcing new limits on carbon pollution. A separate poll<\/a>\u00a0by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3), and Public Opinion Strategies found remarkable support for investing in clean energy: 95 percent for energy efficiency, 88 percent for wind energy, and 80 percent for solar energy.<\/p>\n

To thank the legislators for their leadership, a coalition of environmental groups produced a short video featuring Tony Award-winning director, Anna D. Shapiro:<\/p>\n