“Today’s passage of the Energy Omnibus is a major win for Illinois’ clean energy future — and for the hardworking union members who will build it.

This legislation ensures the clean energy transition delivers good-paying, local union jobs that strengthen communities, support schools, and keep paychecks here in Illinois.  

By lowering the project labor agreement threshold and expanding access to pre-apprenticeship programs, lawmakers have affirmed that progress on Illinois’ clean energy transition will continue to be built on a foundation of good-paying union jobs, equity, and opportunity.

This successful legislation is the result of collaboration and persistence from labor leaders across Illinois. Climate Jobs Illinois and our affiliated unions made the case that clean energy development must be rooted in fairness and family-sustaining wages — and legislators and our negotiating partners listened.

Importantly, this bill guarantees that major wind, solar, and thermal energy projects will be built by skilled Illinois workers — not out-of-state residents.

We applaud the General Assembly for ensuring that the workers who power our economy are central to Illinois’ clean energy future. Together, we’re proving that Illinois can lead the nation in tackling climate change while lifting up working families and the communities they call home.”

— Joe Duffy, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Illinois

About Climate Jobs Illinois

Climate Jobs Illinois represents the hundreds of thousands of Illinois working men and women who are best equipped to build Illinois’ new clean-energy economy from the ground up. Executive Committee members of Climate Jobs Illinois are: Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers,
International Association of Bridge Structural Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers State Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150,
Laborers International Union of North America Great Lakes Region, Laborers International Union of North America Midwest Region and the Illinois Pipe Trades Association.


Climate Jobs Illinois is a state affiliate of the Climate Jobs National Resource Center. CJI has partnered with The Project for Middle Class Renewal at UIUC, Illinois Economic Policy Institute and Cornell University Worker Institute.

To learn more, visit https://climatejobsillinois.org, and follow CJI at @ClimateJobsIL on Twitter or join its Facebook page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 30, 2025

 
MEDIA CONTACT:
Natalie Bauer Luce
nbl@cullotonbauerluce.com