With vast natural, intellectual and technological resources at our disposal, Illinois has the capacity to create a smarter, cleaner energy future. Through increased energy efficiency in our commercial buildings and homes, broad-based movement toward renewable energy solutions including wind, solar and geothermal energy, Illinoisans can save money, create new jobs and dramatically reduce air pollution and the pollution that causes global warming. Environment Illinois is committed to leading the charge toward a new energy future in Illinois.
Specifically, we are working to:
- Develop a series of solar energy policy solutions for Illinois. Our state has surprising solar potential -- more than Germany or Japan, two of the world's leaders in solar power -- and we're supporting solutions that would make Illinois a regional leader in the development of solar energy.
- Implement the landmark electric utility energy efficiency standards we helped to pass in 2007 and natural gas efficiency standards we helped pass in 2009. These standards require our utilities to help their customers save energy. If done right, these programs will save about one billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, approximately the amount that 100,000 people would use in a year.
- Pass federal clean electricity standards that mirror the strong "25% by 2025" standards adopted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2007.
- Oppose efforts of the major oil companies to dramatically expand the development of dirty tar sands oil. Right now these companies are building pipelines and expanding refineries in Illinois, so that our state can serve as the gateway to the U.S. oil market for this dirty fuel.
