ORALS

Background:Amy Antoniolli will speak about the policy success stories from the Illinois Clean Enegy Jobs Act ("CEJA"), which was legislation based on sustainability. CEJA, passed in 2021, includes a first-in-the-nation fleet transformation under the Illinois Coal to Solar program and Energy Transition Act. This framework allows the fleet to develop solar and energy storage at nine existing plant sites in a way that supports equitable clean energy jobs and transitions communities dependent on a legacy coal fleet to renewable energy.  CEJA also created additional incentives to develop renewable energy facilities on brownfields, including former ash ponds at coal-fired power plants, to further support a just transition for communities dependent on revenue from a legacy coal fleet.Learning Objectives: Learn about one of the most equitable clean energy jobs bills in history from a firm that participated in its drafting.  Effective September 15, 2021, the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act sets an ambitious decarbonization goal, requiring Illinois to be reliant on 100% renewable energy by 2050 and is currently in the height of the implementation process. The legislation also created the Illinois Coal to Solar program to transition communities reliant on Illinois’ coal fleet to carbon-free sources of energy.Methodology: The CEJA created a pathway for Illinois to build a diverse clean energy workforce; build wealth, capacity and employment opportunities in minority and women-owned businesses; and ensure that the benefits of energy efficiency and clean energy programs reach environmental justice communities and communities that have experienced historic disinvestment.  The presenter will prepare Powerpoint slides to illustrate and describe case studies, summarize the statewide incentives for transitioning impacted communities and increasing diversity in clean jobs, and explain how Illinois has been a leader in equitable energy policy.