Sen. Dale Fowler has made no secret of his opposition to Senate Bill 2408, dubbed the Clean Energy Bill. | Facebook
Sen. Dale Fowler has made no secret of his opposition to Senate Bill 2408, dubbed the Clean Energy Bill. | Facebook
Republican state Sen. Dale Fowler is relishing his decision to take part in this year’s Council of State Government's ELEVATE Academy in Minnesota.
“This year's ELEVATE Academy brought together some of the country’s top minds on cyber security, transportation infrastructure, workforce development and science communication, facilitating conversations and providing an immersive learning experience,” Fowler said in a post to Facebook. “I was honored to be one of only 21 legislators within twelve Midwest states to be invited to participate in the event and be able to lead the discussion on entrepreneurs in our youth.”
It’s a busy time for Fowler, who earlier this month held a "Coffee and Conversation" event at the Vienna City Park Pavilion, the Carbondale Reporter reported. The gathering was the second such event Fowler has participated in over the last several weeks. He also took part in a talk with constituents at Anna-Jonesboro Community High on Oct. 7, alongside state Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) and colleague Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville).
Fowler has also made no secret of his opposition to Senate Bill 2408, dubbed the Clean Energy Bill.
“This energy proposal was an opportunity to recognize the importance of our coal industry and work collaboratively to establish an energy package that would protect jobs, safeguard Illinois’ energy portfolio and ensure we have reliable energy for Illinoisans," Fowler told the Carbondale Reporter. "Disappointingly, the opportunity was missed and it will have costly consequences for Illinoisans.”
In the end, Fowler said he worries the bill will become most remembered for the high costs it will lead to.
“This energy proposal overlooks the reliability that coal provides to Illinois’ energy portfolio, relying instead on massive subsidies for wind and solar while placing a target on our privately-owned coal plants,” he added.
Finally, Fowler has thrown his support behind a labor agreement reached between the Alexander Cairo Port District and the Illinois AFL-CIO that aims to create 500 union construction jobs connected to a new inland port project where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers conjoin, according to the North Egypt News.
"I am confident that Alexander-Cairo port will be game-changing for our state, spurring additional economic development and growth," he said in an April 27 post to Facebook. "With such a big undertaking, we could not move forward with this project without the incredible local labor workforce of Southern Illinois spearheading its development."
WSIL reported that local Illinois union workers would be prioritized for the new jobs created by the agreement.
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