Schakowsky's Statement on Dept. of Energy Report on Recovery Act Money, Job Creation in Illinois
WASHINGTON, DC (September 15, 2010) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy's reporttoday on $1.5 billion in clean energy investment in Illinois businesses, technologies and academic institutions.
"Today's Department of Energy report highlights the essential role that Illinois and the 9th Congressional District in particular, will play in our nation's development of a new clean energy economy.
"Supporting innovation in green technology is absolutely key to establishing a robust green jobs sector. Thanks in great part to $90 billion in national clean energy investment through the Recovery Act, which includes $1.5 billion for Illinois, we're already making strides. This infusion of funds is spurring much-needed immediate job creation in our hurting economy, but it is also laying the groundwork for American leadership and innovation in clean energy for the 21st century.
"I saw a prime example of those dollars at work last month when I visited Garrett-Evangelical buildings on Northwestern University's campus. Beneficiaries of a newly-installed geothermal heating and cooling technology created by Indie Energy Systems Company of Evanston, the site is a working symbol of our clean energy future and smart investment with immediate and long-term benefits.
"Indie Energy received a $2.5 million award through the Department of Energy, which their CEO says helped create jobs. Over the long-term, this investment will help them grow their business and further develop their geothermal heating and cooling technology, which is based on the clean energy trifecta: efficient, renewable, and less expensive.
"As a nation, it is imperative that we invest in these businesses and institutions right now. The Department of Energy's report highlights our commitment to propel Illinois and our district into a clean energy business corridor....
Clean energy Recovery Act awards in Illinois' 9th Congressional District include:
· $25 million for a pilot project at Haldor Topsoe, Inc. in Des Plaines to convert wood to green gasoline, helping to reduce our dependence on foreign oil;
· $4.7 million in projects for clean energy research and development and novel projects to convert algae, biomass and agricultural residues into green gas and diesel fuel at the Institute of Gas Technology in Des Plaines;
· $5.1 million tax credit for S&C Electric in Rogers Park, Chicago to support their new LEED certified "Gold... industrial laboratory that develops products to reduce utilities' greenhouse gas emissions, to make the utility grid smarter and more reliable, and to better enable our current system's use of renewable energy;
· $750,000 for the City of Evanston's weatherization initiative that includes education, "car-free days... and tap-water reduction, and adds new solar thermal systems to two Evanston Fire Departments;
· $1.6 million for UOP, LLC in Des Plaines for an industrial carbon capture and storage project to capture exhaust from industrial stacks for conversion into components like jet fuel or green diesel;
· Nearly $20 million for development of an Energy Frontier Research Center at Northwestern University that will expand our understanding of solar energy conversion and catalysis and storage of electricity and hydrogen, and Energy Sciences Fellowships and Early Career Research Program.