National legislation on climate needed

Reading the article "With incentives, solar energy's good for environment, business in Lake County" on May 27 regarding the positive impacts of the Future Energy Jobs Act FEJA gave me hope. While our current administration seems to be living in the past, insisting on things such as the existence of "clean coal," legislation such as FEJA shows that states have the power to fight back.

Despite this victory in Illinois, it is clear that national legislation is also needed to stem the onslaught of climate change as well as provide job skills and training for fossil fuel workers. While it is important for green energy to continually move forward, it is also imperative to not leave behind those who rely on the fossil fuel industry for their livelihood.

The argument that there is no money or jobs in the solar sector is simply not true anymore. With every passing year, solar costs dramatically decrease and the number of highly-trained workers steadily increases.

To prevent climate catastrophe, we must transition to renewable energy as soon as possible - and the Off Fossil Fuels Act (OFF Act) now in Congress is the only legislation that addresses the need to break America's dangerous addiction to fossil fuels with enough urgency. The OFF Act would transition America to renewable energy by 2035, while also ensuring a just transition for workers in fossil fuel industries and focusing on environmental justice.

Yet Rep. Krishnamoorthi refuses to cosponsor this important legislation. He claims that "growing our economy and creating jobs" is one of his priorities - well, the OFF Act would do both. Rep. Krishnamoorthi needs to vote the same way he promised his constituents and actually support legislation to protect Illinoisans from climate change. He should cosponsor the OFF Act today.

Paul Berland

Elgin