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 520 Broadway Street
 Lincoln, IL  62656
 
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            | To the editor: 
			
			 The 
			Laborers’ International Union of North America’s (LiUNA) Midwest 
			Region is comprised of highly skilled and dedicated union laborers 
			who are proud of their role in building critical infrastructure 
			across the country. Thankfully, we have another opportunity to 
			continue this proud legacy, right here in Illinois. 
 The Mt. Simon Hub is a proposed project that would capture carbon 
			dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources and safely transport the CO2 
			to permanent storage underground. The Hub will further strengthen 
			Illinois’ manufacturing industry and enable the state’s agricultural 
			sector to decarbonize the ethanol supply chain — reinforcing the 
			demand for renewable fuels and supporting Illinois corn prices as a 
			result.
 
 In addition to the thousands of jobs this project will support, and 
			its $1.7 billion impact on the Illinois economy, the Mt. Simon Hub 
			presents an opportunity for Illinois to shine as a leader in 
			industrial CO2 emission reduction.
 LiUNA’s highly skilled, trained, and safety-minded 
			members are eager to get to work building this critical 
			infrastructure project. However, attempts to derail the project 
			threaten the forthcoming investment in Illinois and Illinois 
			workers.  
            [to top of second column in this letter] | 
            
			 
            We urge those tasked with deciding the future of this 
			project to focus on the facts and current regulations, steering 
			clear of speculation and conjecture. Our members hope to see 
			informed and fair decisions made about the future of clean energy 
			employment opportunities in our state, such as the Mt. Simon Hub.
 – Randy Harris, Director, Midwest Region Laborers-Employers 
			Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) for the Laborers’ 
			International Union of North America (LiUNA)
 [Posted 
            
			January 31, 
			2024]
             
            
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