Carbondale Reporter

State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is pushing legislation designed to provide job-training opportunities to coal-industry workers affected by the state's transition to other energy sources.

“For generations, the coal industry has provided countless hard-working families in Southern Illinois with good-paying jobs and financial security,” Bryant said in a post to her website. “It is the duty of our state to ensure that we provide adequate assistance for the Illinoisans impacted by our transition away from coal.”

Co-sponsored by Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), Senate Bill 3759 seeks to require that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity create a network of 15 program delivery hub sites across the state.

The measure would expand training programs while loosening eligibility requirements for trainees. 

“These common-sense expansions to the Energy Transition Act will help ensure that Illinoisans aren’t left behind during our statewide transition,” Bryant said. “By creating additional training hubs, expanding eligibility for participants, and broadening the curriculum within these facilities, we create more opportunities for the people of our state who currently face an uncertain future.”

Created by the Energy Transition Act of 2021, the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program is responsible for establishing multiple Program Delivery Hub Sites across the state that offer re-education and training for Black, indigenous, people of color, disadvantaged workers and displaced workers impacted by the state’s transition away from a carbon-based energy industry.

 With the act establishing the Clean Jobs Curriculum, courses now include training and education related to solar, wind, energy efficiency, energy storage, solar thermal, green hydrogen, geothermal, electric vehicles, renewable energy industries, emission reduction, and other related sectors.