Time for clean air and clean jobs

This month. the President finalized the first-ever carbon standards for existing power plants. The Environmental Protection Agency's rule known as the Clean Power Plan is the most significant act ever taken by a U.S. president to address the devastating impacts of climate change.

Here in Illinois, we need to regain the lead in clean power and clean jobs that we once had. Pensions and budgets are important, but there is also a Clean Jobs Bill working its way through Springfield.

This bill promises 32,000 new jobs in the clean energy industry. These jobs will be in conservation and renewable energy, like wind and solar, that would make up 35% of our energy sources.

We would reduce pollution from outdated coal plants, giving cleaner air for our communities and the planet. The bill provides savings for electricity consumers and a method to send revenue into coal plant communities to support their transition. We can be proud of our investment in real jobs as part of a sustainable future. I urge everyone to find out more about the Clean Jobs Bill and ask their representatives and Gov.Rauner to support it. Colin Tysoe Des Plaines