For decades, Illinois has been recognized as a national energy leader because our state understands the importance of balance. A strong energy system depends on reliability, affordability and a diverse portfolio of resources working together.
As Illinois continues planning for increased energy demands, those priorities should remain at the center of every conversation, because families and businesses depend on reliable energy to keep homes running and businesses operating.
More Top Picks Weight Benche
Illinois is fortunate to have one of the most diverse energy portfolios in the country. Nuclear energy, renewable resources, natural gas and modern infrastructure all play important roles in supporting a reliable and affordable grid. Nuclear energy, as well as natural gas, provides Illinois residents with a stable, around-the-clock energy source at a consistent cost.
While electricity prices fluctuate significantly with demand, nuclear power remains one of the most cost-efficient sources of carbon-free electricity in the country because facilities operate continuously and produce substantial energy output over long periods. Alongside nuclear energy, natural gas plays a critical role in maintaining a reliable and affordable energy system by providing flexible, dispatchable power that can quickly respond to changes in electricity demand.
Together, these resources provide the reliability and consistency essential to maintaining grid stability while helping keep energy affordable for families and businesses across Illinois.
As energy demands continue to grow, Illinois must continue investing in the infrastructure, workforce development and grid reliability that have helped make our state an energy leader. Maintaining the reliable resources we depend on today remains critical to supporting affordability, strengthening reliability, creating high-quality jobs and encouraging long-term economic growth across the state.
Illinois has a tremendous opportunity to continue leading the nation by embracing an energy strategy that supports reliability, affordability and innovation together. Families and businesses should never have to choose between dependability and affordability. If we continue to embrace an all-of-the-above energy strategy, Illinois can continue delivering both.
Energy policy works best when it focuses on practical outcomes that improve people’s everyday lives. By maintaining a balanced approach and embracing a broad mix of energy resources, Illinois can continue building a dependable energy future that strengthens communities and supports economic opportunity for generations to come.
— State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris
We need to support renewables
Thanks for the excellent investigative journalism articles written by Tribune reporters recently on coal ash impacts and abandoned oil fields in Illinois. It reminds us of the hidden costs of fossil fuel energy production that aren’t reflected at the meter or the pump. These costs are borne by citizens who are left to deal with the property damage and health consequences of the poisoned water, land and air. We’ll add that to the list of costs fossil fuel producers cause through the use of their products but don’t pay for, such as more extreme weather events and the resulting damage from floods, fires and droughts.
We taxpayers indirectly cover many of those costs. The solution is to support federal and state legislation that encourages lower-cost, less-polluting renewable energy to speed up the transition away from environmentally damaging fossil fuels.
We all have a role to play if we want a cleaner energy future.
— Andrew Panelli, Homer Glen
Fossil fuel interests’ influence
The wealth of billionaires in the United States — and worldwide — is soaring, giving them even more ability to influence government decisions in their favor for lower taxes on themselves and the corporations they own; for fewer health, safety and environmental regulations; and for labor law and enforcement that make it more difficult to form unions.
Oil interests made such large contributions that President Donald Trump is promoting fossil fuels while blocking clean-energy solar and wind projects, even though virtually all climate scientists — including climate scientists employed by oil companies — agree that burning fossil fuels is causing global warming, which is producing more extreme weather. Their predictions over more than four decades have proved to be accurate.
Elon Musk contributed over $250 million to Trump and his fellow Republicans in the last election. This means he bought more political speech than millions of ordinary citizens combined. Now that he is the world’s first trillionaire, how much will he contribute in the next election?
The precedent-overturning 2010 Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court — with the five justices in the majority appointed by Republican presidents — permitted unlimited contributions. The decision gave wealthy interests a huge advantage in influencing politicians’ decisions and should be overturned.
We must replace large contributions with small donations matched by a multiple of public funding if we want government to work for ordinary people.
— Richard Barsanti, Western Springs
Muslims can aid understanding
For decades, certain events have been followed by waves of anti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobia. Muslims often express concern about these developments, and many of those concerns are legitimate. But an uncomfortable question deserves to be asked: Are we doing enough to address the problem at its roots?
Too often, we expect others to come to our mosques, attend our open houses, and learn about Islam and Muslims. Yet there are Muslims who rarely participate in the broader civic life of their communities. We want our neighbors to know us, but we do not always make the same effort to know them.
We also sometimes miss opportunities to build genuine relationships. When interfaith encounters do occur, the focus can quickly shift to theological differences rather than getting to know one another as neighbors and fellow citizens. While discussions about beliefs have their place, trust is usually built through friendship, cooperation and shared service long before it is built through debate.
Raising awareness about Islamophobia has value. It can draw attention to genuine prejudice and support educational efforts. But awareness alone does not solve the problem.
People rarely fear what they know well. Misunderstanding grows with distance. Understanding grows in relationships.
If Muslims want to reduce misconceptions about Islam, we should be visible contributors to our communities as volunteers, coaches, teachers, business owners, parents and neighbors. We should be active in schools, civic organizations, food drives and community projects that advance the common good. In doing so, we demonstrate our values through service rather than labels.
The long-term solution to misunderstanding is not merely asking others to learn about us. It is building enough trust that they want to.
More Top Picks Helmets Baseball
— Irfan Sarwar, Wheeling
Let’s teach kids about ableism
Ableism often goes unnoticed because it rarely appears as open hostility. With schools nationwide reevaluating what belongs in early education, it’s time to recognize that teaching respect for disability should be part of the curriculum. More often, ableism shows up in small, everyday moments that reveal how society views people with disabilities. Ableism is the everyday prejudice — sometimes subtle, sometimes overt — that treats people with disabilities as inconvenient, less competent, or less deserving of respect and opportunity.
You see it when someone taking a few extra seconds to cross a parking lot is met with impatience or when slower movement in a store earns irritated looks. Sometimes, the awkwardness goes further: People speak louder or slower to someone using a wheelchair, as if volume or speed compensates for mobility. It’s usually well intentioned, but it shows how unfamiliar many people are with disability.
What often goes unrecognized is that disability does not diminish intelligence, ambition or capability. The real barrier is not the disability itself but the assumptions surrounding it.
A more respectful community starts with simple patience — an extra 10 seconds at a crosswalk, a moment to listen before assuming. And lasting change begins in the classroom, where children can learn early that disability is a natural part of human diversity.
— Rajeshwari A. Dave, Naperville
Note to readers
Bike lanes in Chicago inspire a lot of passion. We’d like to hear your thoughts. Do you support bike lanes? Or are you opposed? Whether you’re for or against, do you have advice for the city on its approach? Send a letter of no more than 400 words to [email protected] by Wednesday, July 1. Include your full name and city/town.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].