Watch Out For... Disappearing Jobs

Last week, before the Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB) released its new study, I forecast the negative economic impact of the Ameren electric rate hike will have upon Carbondale. Based on the new study, over 20,000 jobs are expected to be lost statewide from the hike. Based on the report's formula, Carbondale could expect to lose at least 34 jobs and all the positive multiplier effects those jobs have on the local economy. The region may lose more than a thousand jobs at a time when unemployment rates are already among the highest in the state and poverty rates are rising.

“These rate hikes are transferring money out of the hands of working families, who spend money at Illinois businesses, and putting it in the pockets of utility shareholders,” said CUB Executive Director David Kolata. “Everyone loses but the big utilities.”

Based on 2005 US Census Bureau data, I estimate Jackson County could lose 143 jobs and Williamson County could lose 150. Others: Franklin County - 85, Saline - 66, Randolph - 62, Perry - 50, Union - 42, and Gallatin - 16.

CUB has launched the Don’t Get Shocked Action Campaign to rally support for the rate freeze. The campaign is asking consumers to contact their state legislatures and oppose the rate hikes and to attend a new round of public hearings being held across the state by the Illinois Senate.

Local units of government can do much more. By implementing Cool Cities strategies, government can create jobs from wise energy investments that lead to long-term sustainability.

According to the companies’ own data, the combined rate hikes will drain $2.3 billion out of the Illinois economy.

The CUB study, conducted in conjunction with Synapse Energy Economics Inc., of Cambridge, MA, uses the results of a state-of-the-art economic model to calculate the effects of such a massive transfer of wealth on state employment

Carbondale Signs US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole has joined other mayors across the US that have signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA). As of February 1, 2007, 393 communities that have signed the agreement have pledged to:

• Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns;


• Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and


• Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the professional membership organization representing the interests of thousands of US cities. On June 13, 2005, the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement was passed unanimously by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The following are some of the downstate members of the USCM: Carbondale, Marion, Cahokia, Centralia, DuQuoin, Edwardsville, Herrin, Mt. Vernon, and Swansea.

The USCM has established their own Mayors Climate Protection Web Site with information for government officials that compliments the primary site sponsored by the City of Seattle. The USCM has also passed the following resolutions calling upon their members to take decisive action to protect the environment.

• Adopting the "2030 Challenge" For All Buildings
• Encourages the Use of Landfill Gas-to-Recovery Technologies
• Encouraging the Use of Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles
• Endorses the increased use of Renewable Fuels
• Promotion of Clean, Renewable Energy Sources
• Establishing a New Municipal Energy Agenda to help Address the Nation's Energy and Environmental Challenges and Improve Local Communities

None of the downstate communities listed above, excepting Carbondale, have signed onto the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. Carbondale has not joined the Cool Cities Campaign, a complementary program to implement action plans to achieve the goals of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.

Rock Island is a Cool City

The Quad Cities of Illinois consist of Rock Island and Moline on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River and Bettendorf and Davenport on the Iowa side. Historically the area is known best as the headquarters of the John Deere Corporation and the location of Arsenal Island, the 946-acre island that served as a prisoner of war camp for nearly 13,000 prisoners during the Civil War. Today it is home to the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the western world.

Rock Island acquired new significance this week by becoming the latest Illinois city to join the national Cool Cities Campaign. Mayor Mark Schwiebert showed his leadership skills by being the first Quad City mayor pledging to reduce global warming emissions citywide to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012!

To begin its Cool Cities efforts Rock Island intends to:

• Buy and operating White Hydropower Company dam on the Rock River to generate electricity for the city.
• Rehab a downtown warehouse into first floor offices and retail space with loft apartments on the upper floors. The building will be fitted with a green roof - often a key component of an autonomous buildings.
• Build a bike lane system throughout the city and promote safe and energy efficient bicycling.

Let's hear it for the Mayor Schwiebert! Leadership does make a difference.

Is Carbondale Cool?

Isn't it time that the City of Carbondale became a Cool City?

A Cool City has made a commitment to stopping global warming by signing the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. The Cool Cities campaign helps cities turn their commitments into action by pushing for smart energy solutions.

Did you know that from 1979 to 1985 the City of Carbondale had its own Energy Division with a mission to promote energy conservation, wise energy use, and use of renewable energy from sources such as solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal? With a staff of four professionals plus interns and community volunteers, Carbondale led the Midwest in attacking the long-term problems of declining energy supplies, high utility prices and pollution. Then Mayor Hans Fischer took a leadership role in saving city government, homeowners and businesses money through sound energy efficiency investments. He and I even took Carbondale's message of hope to the City of Seattle and said look what we can do! Twenty-five years later Seattle has sent the message back saying every city can now be a cool city. Every city can address the larger problems of climate disruption, dependence upon foreign oil, and energy waste.

What happened to Carbondale's innovative energy program? It was shut down when the "energy crisis" was no longer deemed a priority. Gas prices dropped, long lines at the gas pump disappeared, and the Republicans took office with a far different agenda for the future.

While Carbondale has sat on its aged and forgotten laurels, ten cities in Illinois have made the pledge to join the growing ranks of Cool Cities: Alton, Carol Stream, Chicago, Edwardsville, Highland Park, Lombard, Oak lawn, Rock Island, Schaumberg, and Waukeegan. These ten join the ranks of more than 319 mayors representing over 51 million Americans in 46 states and the District of Columbia (as of October 2006). These mayors have pledged to reduce global warming carbon dioxide pollution in their cities to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012 (the same reductions and target date called for under the Kyoto Protocol Global Warming Treaty).

These communities are "moving forward with innovative energy solutions that curb global warming, save taxpayer dollars, and create healthier cities. At a time when the federal government is failing to act, when the Illinois state legislature is failing to stem massive gas and electric rate increases, these local leaders are moving America toward a safer and more secure future."

Where are Carbondale's city Council candidates on this issue? Why has Carbondale stopped being a leader in energy issues? Shouldn't Carbondale reenergize its commitment to a safer future?

Should Carbondale be a Cool City? Read about Cool Cities and then take the poll on this page to send your message to the leaders of Carbondale.