Thread by @ILCleanJobs

THREAD: The feds recently implicated ComEd in running a bribery ring where the utility handed out $1.3 million in political favors. We must hold them accountable and act on climate change without delay. Let’s break this down. 1/10

For years, ComEd traded jobs, contracts, and money for political influence. They used that influence to pass “formula rates” that gifted ComEd executives with automatic rate hikes at the expense of low-income ratepayers and small businesses. This needs to end now. 2/10

Here is some news coverage of the criminal case against ComEd from the last few days:
chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/7/1…
wbez.org/stories/breaki…
chicagobusiness.com/opinion/comeds…
3/10

ComEd’s parent company, Exelon, claims they have already solved the problem. We’re not taking their word for it. We need to pass strong reforms in order to stop this behavior, hold utility executives accountable, and create energy policy that puts people first. 4/10

So what does this mean for future energy legislation in IL at a time when acting on climate is so urgent? Put simply, the days of utilities dictating energy policy are over. Last year, the ICJC suspended talks with all utilities & we helped defeat their auto rate increases. 5/10

We’re not the only ones who saw the problem of utility companies writing their own rules. In January, @GovPritzker announced that he wouldn’t sign a bill written by the utilities. Instead, he put voices like ours- frontline communities, enviro experts, and businesses- first. 6/10

The #CleanEnergyJobsAct is unique. It was drafted based on more than 100 listening sessions across the state with frontline communities, enviro experts, and clean energy businesses, leading to the most comprehensive and equitable clean jobs bill in Illinois history. 7/10

We’ve long said that our state’s energy future must be determined by Illinoisans - not by utility executives looking to line their own pockets or by bureaucrats in Washington looking to prop up fossil fuel companies. That’s why we support #CEJA, and so do 82% of Illinoisans. 8/10

We must act on climate change now and we must pass energy legislation that has equity at its core. Only #CEJA does this. Tell your legislators to pass CEJA now, and urge them to hold utility companies accountable for their actions. bit.ly/CEJAcosponsor 9/10

To learn more about the #CleanEnergyJobsAct, and to see a breakdown of why #CEJA is the most comprehensive and equitable clean jobs bill in Illinois history, visit our website and sign up for updates at ilcleanjobs.org! 10/10