By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – People who want more solar and wind power in Illinois say there’s much to be done.
Illinois State University professor David Loomis says as important as construction .. are operations and maintenance.
“These are long-term jobs that are going to stay for years and years to come. The expected life of wind and solar is 30 years, and so, as we look at those 1,292 jobs that are going to be supported directly. Those would be wind turbine and other solar technician jobs.”
Loomis is the director of the Center for Renewable Energy.
But the drive for renewable energy in Illinois is sputtering, says State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago).
“Illinois’ renewable energy program is out of funding,” he said during an online presentation. “The Illinois Power Agency announced the (end) of the state renewable incentives for central and southern Illinois, and incentives in Chicago and the rest of northern Illinois are going to be gone as well.
“This is a problem we have been talking about for years. It’s here now.”
State Rep. Will Davis (pictured, left) (D-Homewood) says the potential is still great.
“Passing the Path to 100 Act will create 53,298 construction jobs and 3,215 long-term operations jobs by 2023,” Davis said during the same event. “It may sound like a long pathway, but these are highly skilled jobs. “This is such a great way to create long-term economic growth for individuals.”
Still uncertain: what priority renewable energy will have in what stands to be a busy 2021 for the lawmakers. Cunningham and Davis remain optimistic.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].
