Capitalize on Illinois’ strengths

The United States is facing the worst economic challenges since the Great Depression, and Illinois is faring worse than most. A new report from the American Legislative Exchange Council ranks our economic performance among the 10 worst states in the country, and our unemployment rate of 9.1 percent exceeds the national average.

To get our economy moving again, we must capitalize on our strengths. Energy is one of the cornerstones of Illinois’ economy. The Illinois Energy to Jobs Initiative – and provisions contained in House Bill 3854 – can help us take advantage of the coming growth in energy development.

With an energy base that includes one of the largest coal reserves in the world, farmland for biofuels, more nuclear power generation than any state, ample wind for electrical generation, a convergence of natural gas and crude oil pipelines, five area oil refineries, a robust electricity transmission system, and much more, Illinois is well positioned as an energy research and production center.

How will this help Illinois’ economy? Simply put, new energy investment means more jobs.
There are projects under way across Illinois providing a glimpse of the economic promise energy investment holds.

The Prairie State Energy Campus under construction in Washington County is expected to create 450 permanent jobs, employ up to 2,500 workers during peak construction, and inject more than $2.8 billion into economy over the first three decades in operation.

A solar panel manufacturing plant and solar farm that would generate enough electricity to power 3,300 homes is planned for Rockford. It is estimated to generate 200 high-paying jobs.

If you’d had the opportunity to drive around the state lately, it’s hard to miss the wind farm construction, creating jobs across the state.

Energy projects like these, and the promise of FutureGen in Coles County, help Illinois strengthen its position as an energy leader – a position that will help our economy today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

To realize our full potential – and not lose projects to neighboring states – we must create a business and regulatory environment that encourages new energy investment. The Illinois Energy to Jobs Initiative is the comprehensive strategy we need to ensure our existing energy infrastructure continues to thrive, and new energy projects move from the drawing board to reality.