The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) will play a large role in the state’s efforts to scale up the use of renewable energy, address climate change, and create equitable access to the new clean energy economy. This webinar will provide an overview of CEJAs many provisions, including decarbonization, just transition, renewable energy, equitable workforce development, utility accountability, and consumer protection. Speakers will discuss how the new law and programs will impact consumers, communities, and the marketplace. Illinois Extension partners, Prairie Rivers Network and Just Transition Fund will provide remarks, feature a panel with participants from Citizens Utility Board and Faith in Place, and moderate a live Q and A. Register here.
Agenda
- 11:00 - 11:05am: Introduction
- 11:05 - 11:10am: CEJA Overview/Background - Amanda Pankau
- 11:10 - 11:23am: Decarbonization and Just Transition - Andrew Rehn
- 11:23 - 11:35am: Renewable Energy and Equitable Workforce - Christina Krost
- 11:35 - 11:48am: Utility Accountability and Consumer Protection - Scott Allen
- 11:48am - 12pm: Q&A
The following partners will provide remarks, feature a guest panel, and moderate the webinar:
- Amanda Pankau coordinates Prairie Rivers Network's campaign to work with advocates, leaders, and communities to realize the benefits of clean, renewable energy and address the costs of non-renewable sources, such as coal. She helps develop and implement policies and programs to ensure a just, equitable, and clean transition to renewable energy. is a statewide non-profit with a mission to protect water, heal land, and inspire change and they are working across the state for a just and equitable transition to a clean energy economy.
- Scott Allen is an Environmental Outreach Coordinator at the Citizens Utility Board. He joined the organization in 2014, and opened CUB's first downstate office in Hillsboro. Scott now lives in Springfield, and in addition to consumer outreach, he represents a caucus of downstate individuals and organizations at the state Climate Table of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition.
- Andrew Rehn provides technical and policy expertise in support of Prairie River Network’s energy and coal pollution programs. The challenges facing Illinois watersheds are complex, and finding answers to those problems requires science and engineering experience that Andrew brings to PRN. As a member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, Andrew has worked on Just Transition, Decarbonization, and Equitable Workforce issues.
- Christina Krost grew up in suburban Detroit and holds a BA from Albion College and an MAT from Marygrove College. She taught in both public and private schools in Illinois and Michigan for 10 years before starting her ministry in creation justice. She joined Faith in Place (IL Affiliate of Interfaith Power and Light) in March 2015 to organize houses of worship around smart energy programs in central and southern Illinois. She is married to Todd, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, and is living and serving alongside her 3 daughters in Mattoon, IL.
For past and future programs: https://go.illinois.edu/LGE