Illinois Valley Times

Legislation that aims to increase diversity in clean energy jobs by requiring more transparency when it comes to reporting minority-own business participation in Illinois has made its way through the House Energy & Environmental Committee.

Under the legislation, energy suppliers that generate more than 500 kilowatt hours of electricity each year in Illinois, and all companies that develop, build, install, or maintain a renewal energy project with annual revenues that surpass $15,000,000 would be required to submit a yearly report on "procurement goals and actual spending for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises," according the Illinois General Assembly website.

"I can tell you just from what I've seen it is increased, that transparency has increased participation and that's a good thing," Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) during the Jan. 18 committee hearing. 

Rep. William Davis (D-Hazel Crest) originally introduced the bill in November. 

"I know you all have to work on some of that language, but having that open, out there, and transparent will lead to some better results from what we've seen now," Welter said.

Welter added he respects the direction Davis is "trying to go with this."

The bill passed the committee unanimously with 21 votes. Before that, it had its first reading on Jan. 5 before it was referred to the Rules Committee and ultimately assigned to the Energy & Environment Committee.