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Senate Bill 193 is moving through the General Assembly and would
create offshore wind.
“In order to do wind energy, you have to have a plan, so this
lays out a pilot to start the process of developing wind energy
not just on land but also our waters,” said State Rep. Marcus
Evans, D-Chicago, the bill’s chief sponsor.
Proponents say it will create thousands of clean energy jobs and
put Illinois one step closer to meeting goals set out in the
Climate & Equitable Jobs Act. Those jobs would be offered to
underserved residents.
The language in the bill states: “Provides that the Fund shall
be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
to encourage and facilitate the employment of construction
workforces located in underrepresented populations.”
The legislation has received support from the Chicago Federation
of Labor, the Chicago Urban League, and the Chicagoland Chamber
of Commerce.
The Pentagon sounded alarms over the Biden Administration's
plans for offshore wind projects along the Atlantic coast due to
conflicts with military operations. The concerns, which come on
top of other conflicts identified by the U.S. Coast Guard, have
made renewable power developers and East Coast states jittery as
they try to meet clean energy and climate goals.
There is a Coast Guard station in the Chicago area, but Evans
said he is not aware of any concerns.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest
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