Clean Bill jobs would save money, create jobs

The May 7th editorial by ComEd Vice President Val Jensen falsely states that the comprehensive energy bill favored by environmentalists would cost consumers money.

An independent analysis by the Citizen's Utility Board reports that the Clean Jobs bill will save Illinois consumers over $1.6 billion by 2030 in efficiency alone.

That is a savings of 7.8 percent or about $98 a year for the average consumer.

According to the Illinois Science and Technology Institute, in addition to saving consumers money, the Clean Jobs bill creates 32,000 jobs each year.

But to see why Illinois lawmakers should quickly pass this bill, one need only turn to the previous page of the same issue of the Herald and read "CO2 Keeps Rising."

We are informed that because of continued use of fossil fuels, oil, gas, and coal, CO2 is rising at a pace of 100 times faster than natural rises of the past.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CO2 levels hit 400.83 parts per million for the first time in 2 million years.

Chief NOAA scientist Pieter Tans said this is more like an explosion than the slow changes of the past.

ComEd should not oppose efforts to deal with this dire threat to human and animal life.

There is no downside to the Clean Jobs bill except for people who make money from keeping energy prices high.

Environmentalists strongly take issue with ComEd's attempt to mischaracterize the Clean Jobs bill as bad for consumers.

The Clean Energy Jobs bill is a win for consumers and workers now and for life on earth in the future.

• Linda Sullivan, of Lombard, is Illinois Sierra Club Lobby Chair. Connie Schmidt, of Warrenville, is River Prairie Group of Sierra Club Chair.