* This was such a no-brainer bill and there was no good reason for it to be controversial except that Rep. Sonya Harper, whose family owns property in the township, tried to block it from passage. The whole thing was just so bizarre. Democratic Senator Mike Simmons said during floor debate against the bill that some of the poorest residents in Illinois had “learned to live in nature.” What? Press release…
To help give the residents of Pembroke Township the ability to heat their homes more affordably, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) championed a new law that will bring natural gas service to the area. The law was supported and advanced by a group of stakeholders including the Village of Hopkins Park, Pembroke Township, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Senator Joyce, Representative Jackie Haas, Rainbow PUSH and Kankakee County.
“Pembroke residents have lived in a community that lacks the basic access to a natural gas service for far too long,” Joyce said. “I’m thrilled to see this transformative legislation signed into law so residents can have a reliable and affordable source of heat in their homes.”
The measure passed with bipartisan support.
“With the governor’s signature today, bringing safe, effective utilities to the people of Pembroke is now one step closer to becoming reality,” said State Representative Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee), the House sponsor of the measure. “This was a great bipartisan effort that had a lot of moving pieces but couldn’t have had a better result. I look forward to continuing to advocate for Pembroke until the job is done.” […]
“Bringing more robust infrastructure to Pembroke Township is an issue of equity for an area that has not seen enough investment,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “I will continue to work to see services brought to this area that improve quality of life and attract jobs for residents.”
For residents who choose natural gas service, Joyce secured $1 million in state funding last year to enable Pembroke Township residents to take advantage of these new service lines. Through the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Fund, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will distribute grants to eligible residents to help cover the cost of converting appliances to be compatible with natural gas.
House Bill 3404 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.
The township supervisor who strongly opposed the pipeline lost reelection to a pipeline supporter and the Hopkins Park mayor supports the pipeline, but some folks at the Statehouse just thought they knew better. This was one of the most paternalistic displays of legislative gamesmanship I have seen in a long time.
* And don’t even get me started about the environmentalists who opposed the bill right up to the end. Check out this Illinois Environmental Council call to action email from July…
A dangerous effort is afoot in Illinois–one that promises to jeopardize human health, skyrocket harmful methane emissions and lock in higher utility rates in under-resourced communities for years to come.
We can’t let gas companies win without a fight. Click here to oppose their dirty energy and even dirtier playbook.
Oh for crying out loud.
* Kankakee Daily Journal…
Samuel Payton, Pembroke Township supervisor and a Kankakee County Board member, said this current effort started three years ago, but it’s been an off-and-on effort for a couple decades.
“I’ve been a person for the last 16 years who’s been saying Pembroke needs natural gas,” Payton said. “All the communities around us — Aroma Park, Momence and St. Anne — have got natural gas. They are all thriving communities. We want natural gas.”
Payton said now he pays $750 for propane that lasts a little more than a month.
“In the winter days, I have to spend approximately three times that, so if we had natural gas, I could be on the budget. If we had natural gas, I wouldn’t have to worry about my service getting turned off.”
- Custer Park GOP - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 9:34 am:
Simmons should be ashamed of himself for voting against the bill and his asinine comment.
A rare moment of bipartisanship on display in passing this critical legislation.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 9:42 am:
Maybe Simmons could volunteer to personally pay everyone’s gas bills in Pembroke Township?
- Nick - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 9:44 am:
In the grand scheme of things it’s true we need to be electrifying as much as possible.
But also jesus, just let these people have access to heating and appliances like the rest of. This isn’t some huge boon for gas companies.
- Shield - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 9:45 am:
Does the voices of white bloggers and politicians matter more than the Black farmers who didn’t want it? Or are some just too afraid to admit it’s a complex issue in order to make themselves feel like saviors?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/6/11/22527876/pembroke-township-nicor-natural-gas-pipeline-kankakee-county-farming-clean-energy-hopkins-park
- Hannibal Lecter - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 9:48 am:
Another sign that society is going down the toilet. C’mon people! This is making sure poor people have access to natural gas to cook and heat their homes. This is a basic necessity not some pork project.
- Ok - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 10:04 am:
Eh, I don’t know. This was never about gas for residents. It was all a pipe dream about a supposed nestle factory that would just get built if only they had a gas pipeline serving the community. There are better and cheaper alternatives, and while some people there have wood stoves, most people have propane like in most rural areas. To pretend like this gas pipeline to subsidize a factory was about the residents is typically cynical.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 10:06 am:
=== matter more than the Black farmers who didn’t want it?===
One Black farming family, transplants from Chicago who want to live off the grid and force everyone else to do so as well.
And it’s not about a white blogger. Every elected person representing that town and township, right up to the US Rep., supported the project.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 10:10 am:
Congratulation on the bi-partisan (Sen Joyce/Rep Haas) solution, having Nat gas will fix this very quality of life issue. I hope the voters remember this when Rep. Sonya Harper is on the ballot.
- Take a closer look - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 10:11 am:
Rep. Sonya Harper should have supported this project too. She missed an opportunity to be the leader this community desperately needs. If she was on board, the Governor probably would have done a major bill signing ceremony and really celebrated this monumental event.
- vern - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 10:18 am:
If Simmons or Harper had the courage of their convictions they’d introduce bills eliminating gas service in their own districts. If that’s not happening they need to mind their business
- wayward - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 10:24 am:
Wow, Harper’s legislative district (6) is strangely shaped, though to be fair, a number of the ones in Chicago are.
- Been There - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 10:34 am:
==== And don’t even get me started about the environmentalists who opposed the bill right up to the end=====
My guess is Rep Harper and Sen Simmons, along with the enviromentalists, all have natural gas in their homes.
- Just Saying - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 11:02 am:
==== And don’t even get me started about the environmentalists who opposed the bill right up to the end=====
Some like Simmons and Harper may want to rethink blindly following the environmentalists, especially on these issues.
- Roman - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 11:21 am:
@Nick nails it.
I’m with the greens 90 percent of the time, but their myopic absolutism on this issue was maddening. They looked like the NRA of the left.
- Roadrager - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 11:42 am:
==There are better and cheaper alternatives, and while some people there have wood stoves, most people have propane like in most rural areas.==
Better and cheaper for who? The township supervisor quoted in the story says he’s dropping $750 a month on propane. How much is your gas bill running each month?
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 12:18 pm:
==“learned to live in nature.”==
Try giving that excuse if someone catches you urinating in public (even if it was in your back yard while mowing and you didn’t want to go inside).
- Huh? - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 12:22 pm:
For those advocating the switch, consider that it isn’t an easy switch to go from propane to natural gas. The jets in the stove or furnace are sized differently. The cost to convert will be on the homeowner.
- No relation - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 12:47 pm:
Huh?
The article mentions a million dollar grant to help people convert their appliances but I had a similar thought. Who will bear the cost of running the line from the street to the house?
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 1:42 pm:
==Payton said now he pays $750 for propane that lasts a little more than a month.==
==For those advocating the switch, consider that it isn’t an easy switch to go from propane to natural gas.==
Maybe they won’t have to switch. That’s an outrageous price for propane. I have an LP tank (LP = liquid propane) and have never paid that much for a month’s worth of propane, even in winter, and I live in an old farmhouse with propane heat and appliances. Maybe the threat of competition will push the LP folks to lower their prices in order to compete; otherwise, the grants plus a significant savings on price should pay for the retrofitting and service lines.
- justaguy02 - Monday, Aug 30, 21 @ 3:58 pm:
Propane is bought in bulk, delivery is usually included. Wait till Mr. Gas sees a Customer, Distribution, Storage Service, Energy Efficiency, Environmental, Gas Cost Adjustment and(especially newly built)Infrastructure charge added.