HR0097

LRB096 10777 NHT 20979 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The Illinois Community College Sustainability 
3
Network (ICCSN), an existing structure partnering with the 
4
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is an 
5
innovative and immediate avenue to create green-collar jobs; 
6
and

 
7
    WHEREAS, The ICCSN is a tested and trusted resource and

8
provides the most efficient means to rapidly address the new 
9
energy economy's need for a green-jobs workforce and for the 
10
widespread deployment of energy conservation to the community 
11
level; and

 
12
    WHEREAS, With appropriate funding, the current ICCSN is 
13
well positioned to expand to serve all 48 public community 
14
colleges in this State, and the whole system is committed to 
15
preparing a green-collar workforce with both the academic and 
16
technical skills needed to stimulate growth in the new energy 
17
economy; and

 
18
    WHEREAS, This State's public community colleges have 
19
planned construction projects to convert campus energy systems 
20
to more efficient and clean energy sources; it is estimated 
21
that 50,000 direct and indirect
green-collar jobs could be 
22
created by installing geothermal, wind, and solar technologies 
 


 






HR0097
- 2 -
LRB096 10777 NHT 20979 r




1
on community college campuses across this State; and

 
2
    WHEREAS, The ICCSN has requested a total of $648,600,000 
3
through the federal government's economic recovery initiative

4
in order to do the following:
5
        (1)  rapidly accelerate training and development of the 
6
    green-collar workforce by expanding the ICCSN; and
7
        (2)  stimulate the creation of green-collar jobs 
8
    through community college renewable energy and energy 
9
    conservation projects that are bid ready and that would 
10
    train green-collar workers while reducing the carbon usage 
11
    and energy cost of community college facilities; and

 
12
    WHEREAS, Each project will serve multiple goals related to 
13
developing the green-collar workforce; the projects will 
14
create green-job skills, decrease campus energy consumption by 
15
30% to 50%, provide hands-on experience for renewable energy 
16
technician training, serve as
demonstration sites for 
17
business, industry, and homeowners, and be shovel-ready 
18
immediately or within 180 days; and

 
19
    WHEREAS, Accountability for outcomes will occur through 
20
independent measuring and verification for carbon reduction 
21
strategies; therefore, be it

 
22
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
 


 






HR0097
- 3 -
LRB096 10777 NHT 20979 r




1
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
2
urge the U.S. Congress to fund the Illinois Community College 
3
Sustainability Network's request for $648,600,000 from the 
4
federal government for the training and development of a 
5
green-collar workforce and the creation of green-collar jobs 
6
through community college renewable energy and energy 
7
conservation projects; and be it further

 
8
    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
9
delivered to the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, the 
10
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and each member 
11
of the Illinois congressional delegation.