Action Alert: Fight Climate Change in Chicago
Tell the Chicago City Council to pass the Clean & Affordable Buildings Ordinance, due to be introduced Wednesday, January 24. CABO will take the first step to remove methane gas from our buildings, making them healthier for us and the climate.
Take Action
Add your voice by personalizing and signing these two petitions by Public Interest Research Group (SIGN HERE) and the Sierra Club (SIGN HERE). Please also contact your alder and ask them to support the ordinance.
What You Should Know
Burning fossil fuels in buildings accounts for about two-thirds of greenhouse gases emitted in Chicago. Indoor emissions from natural gas have been linked to higher rates of asthma and cancer, so an ordinance helping the transition from gas to electricity in buildings has been in the works for some time.
Now, with support from Mayor Brandon Johnson and a number of alders, the Clean & Affordable Buildings Ordinance is expected to be introduced at this week's City Council meeting. Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) heads the Environment Committee, where it will be sent for hearings. Hadden is a lead sponsor of the measure.
The ordinance would effectively ban natural gas in new construction by setting emissions standards so that, by 2025, new buildings would be all-electric. It would also commit Chicago to crafting a "Building Performance Standard," a mechanism to reduce emissions in the city's largest buildings through energy efficiency and electrification. Environmental and consumer advocacy groups support the measure. The natural gas industry and gas utilities oppose it.
Right now, about half of electricity in Northern Illinois is emissions-free, with 42% from nuclear and 7% from renewables. As renewables like solar and wind grow, the importance of electrifying buildings will grow with it. New York City and Los Angeles have passed similar ordinances. Consumer groups like Citizens Utility Board point out that electricity is cheaper than gas.
Thank you for taking action!
This Action Alert was originally issued by The Climate Reality Project: Chicago Metro Chapter.