Support Natural Gas
Efficiency Portfolio Standard
Please call your Illinois state
representative and tell ask him/her to cosponsor HB 4321, the Natural Gas
Portfolio Standard. If you live in Bob Biggins’ district please call him and thank him for cosponsoring
(Very important since the natural gas utilities are calling him every day
complaining that he is supporting the bill).
Bill name: Natural Gas Efficiency
Portfolio Standard
Our ask: cosponsor
State or federal? state
Whom to call: State Representatives
Where to call: local office – The
General Assembly is in recess until April 21; Springfield April 21 and after
Numbers: Your representative’s local contact information can be accessed
on http://www.ilga.gov/ . Click on his or her name
under “House,” “members.”
Springfield switchboard: 217-782-2000.
What the bill does:
HB 4321 works on the premise that it is much more efficient not to waste
energy than it is to build more power plants. It requires Illinois natural gas
utilities to meet a growing percentage of natural gas demand through efficiency
programs. The utilities themselves create programs that educate residential,
industrial and commercial consumers on cost-effective ways to use less natural
gas. The utilities create small
incentives for consumers to implement these measures. For instance, incentives may be created to
insulate the home, install programmable thermostats and buy efficient furnaces.
Why we favor the bill:
- HB 4321 will
lower fossil fuel burning and reduce the pressure on climate catastrophe.
- It will save
consumers money as their gas utility bills go down.
- Energy
efficiency is the single most cost effective way to meet Illinois’ growing
energy demand. It is coal-fired
plants that don’t have to be built; it is much more efficient not to waste
energy than it is even to build solar plants!
This bill is in the Illinois House or Representatives. Please call your state representative and ask
him or her to become a cosponsor of this bill. If we all speak out, this bill
will pass!
The lone legislator in DuPage who has cosponsored this bill is Bob Biggins. Please call
him and thank him for his courage.
If you have questions, please email me, Linda Sullivan at lsullivan23@hotmail.com.
Thank you for all you do.
Linda Sullivan and Julia Nephew
Bluestem Action Alert Network Chairs
April, 2009