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Dear neighbors,
Two years ago I got a mailer. It said that the Clean and Affordable Homes Ordinance, which I was a co-sponsor of and would set emissions standards for new construction, would reward greedy utilities and drive up heating bills by over a thousand dollars. Yikes!
So I did everything it told me not to do. Over the last two years my wife and I replaced our gas hot water heater with an electric one; both gas ranges with induction and electric models; and our gas furnace for heat pumps. Our last three monthly energy/electric bills for the 1st floor unit we're living in: $15.51, $16.50, and $44.44. I'm not kidding; ask me and I'll show you the actual bills. Meanwhile, the utility that wasn't the greedy one, Peoples Gas: they're the ones seeking a $202M rate hike and guaranteed 10+% annual profits. You can learn more about that rate hike at this webinar on February 25th.
Setting aside the climate impacts of no longer burning natural gas, having no risk of carbon monoxide, and lower risk of childhood asthma for our kids, the facts make the case that helping more Chicagoans decarbonize/retrofit their homes is the biggest thing we could do for affordability. It's about time, four years later, for the city to do another round of retrofitting grants and reconsider legislative measures as well.
Thankfully the state of Illinois hasn't forgotten about our climate crisis and has new grants available for FREE solar installations. These dollars need to go out the door by May 29th so if you are a nonprofit in a qualifying area please email info@the1stward.com so we can get you connected!
Finally I want to take a moment to remember Jesse Jackson Sr. who passed away earlier this morning. I had several opportunities to experience his presence if not the fullness of his energy. Nevertheless, his prophetic imagination for a more just society and his endless commitment to cross-cultural coalition building stand as a strong rebuke to our current political climate. He will be missed but never forgotten.
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