Illinois Valley Times

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) vowed to fight for energy workers during a recent rally at the Capitol where Gov. J.B. Pritzker was urged to keep nuclear energy plants across the state in operation.

“I am proud to represent nuclear power plants,” Rezin said at the rally. “I want you to know that we are fighting for you. To those of you here from the Quad, I grew up right near the Quad City power plant and we got your back.  These power plants employ thousands of workers directly from my district and they generate critical resources. This legislation preserves those plants and saves good-paying jobs and sustains communities.”

After leading the crowd in chants of “Gov. Pritzker save our jobs,” Rezin touched on other ways she thinks keeping the plants open will benefit the state.

“It makes the state’s goal of carbon-free communities possible,” she added.  “As my colleague Sen. (Michael) Hastings (D-Frankfort) said, if these plants shut down it will take three decades to replace the clean energy that they generate.”

Rezin called on other lawmakers to get involved and stand up for what she says is the right thing.

“We’re here today fighting for the men and women that work at these plants,” she said. “I’m pleading with my colleagues in the General Assembly to join me in supporting our communities and putting hard-working middle-class workers to work.”

The Climate Union Jobs Act (CUJA) introduced by Rezin seeks to provide additional renewable energy generation as it puts new accountability and transparency requirements for utilities in place. In addition, the measure would also preserve Illinois’ nuclear fleet by ensuring the security of 28,000 existing jobs.