Inside:
- Coalition warns against phasing out use of natural gas in Illinois
- Two local college students served as pages for a day
- Free Veteran and Senior Fair coming up April 29
- Speaking to Bureau Valley FFA
Coalition warns against phasing out use of natural gas in Illinois
A coalition made up of 19 different labor, business and manufacturing organizations has petitioned the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to end its efforts to phase out natural gas in Illinois, calling the action “unreasonable and ill-advised.” This request comes in the wake of a recent statewide adequacy report which warned of future energy shortages.
The ICC, along with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Power Agency, put together a report on how the state is progressing towards its goals for energy and climate emissions, while also looking at the reliability of the state’s electricity grid. This comes as a result of legislation which Governor Pritzker signed in 2021 known as the Clean Energy and Jobs Act, or CEJA, which set a goal of making the state’s power grid 100% carbon-free by 2045.
The report found that the state is going to face significant challenges meeting its energy demand as existing power plants are retired to comply with the law. This could lead to increased prices and strain on the electricity grid.
Read more about the ongoing natural gas debate here. To find out more about Illinois’ energy grid, click here.
Two local college students served as pages for a day
This week I welcomed Jordyn Sedlock and Austin Ullrich to the Illinois House of Representatives as Pages for the Day.
I always enjoy welcoming local students to the House chamber and introducing them to my colleagues. This week we had not one, but two, great students from local colleges who have served their communities and helped their neighbors.
Jordyn is a junior at Western Illinois University majoring in music education. She is the daughter of Carmen and Jason Sedlock, who own a roofing company in Coal Valley. She is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority and the Western Illinois University Music Education Association. Jordyn participates in the Rockython, a dance marathon to raise funds for her local children’s hospital, as well as Delta Zeta’s charitable work. She recently earned a spot on the WIU Dean’s List.
Austin is a sophomore at Sandburg College. His parents are Russ and Malinda Ullrich, who are both teachers at Galesburg High School. He is a student ambassador, president of Student Government, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Men of Distinction, a campus organization focused on good citizenship, community involvement and volunteerism. Austin has worked with the United Way of Knox County’s Day of Action, the campus food pantry, and has made mentorship school visits to local elementary schools. He earned the 2024-2025 David M. Kellogg Award of Excellence from the Criminal Justice Department, and he plans to major in political science at Monmouth College and go on to law school.
Free Veteran and Senior Fair coming up April 29
Our Veteran and Senior Fair is coming up on Wednesday April 29th from 9 a.m. until noon at the Vault, 185 S. Kellogg Street, Galesburg. The event is free and open to the public.
The Carriage House will provide a free continental breakfast. The Illinois Lions Club Hearing and Screening Bus will be available to provide services. Loren’s Barbershop and BZ’s Chopshop will offer free haircuts to veterans. We will be collecting donated canned food items to help support the newly established Knox County Veterans Assistance Commission Pantry.
Please mark your calendar. I hope to see you there!
Speaking to Bureau Valley FFA
Last week I joined Mayor Mabry of Princeton in speaking to the Bureau Valley High School FFA organization about local and state government.
Mayor Mabry highlighted his work focusing on expanding opportunities in Princeton. My discussion included how to talk with legislators to encourage their continued support for Illinois Agriculture and FFA. Many of these students will be at the Capitol for Ag Day on March 24th in Springfield.
We had a great discussion, and I look forward to seeing the students again in Springfield for Ag Legislative Day at the Capitol! Thank you Bureau Valley FFA members, Caseelynn Shimmin, Bureau Valley FFA Advisor, for the invitation. It was also great seeing Mayor Mabry.
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