Letter: A leader for clean energy solutions in illinois

Depending on how long you've lived here, you have probably been experiencing the effects of climate change. As the Nature Conservancy's recent report concluded: "Illinois is experiencing long-term changes in weather patterns, especially increases in extreme warm periods and total annual precipitation, as well as great intensities of individual rainstorms."

It may be that the intensified storms have led to your basement flooding or fallen tree branches, or the extreme summer heat is keeping you inside more.

Fortunately, thanks to the Democrats in Congress, we finally have a chance to do something about it with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. With this bill, which is paid for by ensuring that big companies pay their fair share, there is money to get us ready for the future while creating good-paying clean energy jobs. And the strategy for how to combat climate change is largely the result of the vision of Rep. Sean Casten of the 6th District and fellow members of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the NDC's Climate Change Task Force.

Casten knows how to help businesses profitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the recovery of otherwise wasted energy because he's done it as a CEO of a clean energy company. He has also been strategizing on developing Illinois' energy infrastructure of tomorrow such as battery manufacture, charging stations and energy storage.

Support Sean Casten this November for the leadership we need in a new world of clean energy.

Ellen Vestergaard, Hinsdale;

Jean Dorrance, Westmont

Marybeth Devine, Downers Grove