A Clean Energy Vision

Introduction

A CLEAN ENERGY VISION

All across the country, there are many solutions being implemented to protect and halt the devastating effects of climate change. At the center of these solutions are the goals of increasing energy efficiency and transitioning to clean energy. It is imperative that Blue Island embed these principals in its long-term energy strategy.

This energy plan presents a wide range of solutions that address both energy efficiency and transition to clean energy while also combating energy issues in housing, economics, and transportation. With regards to housing, homes will be more energy efficient through a weatherization program. Additionally, Blue Island would be keeping up with the surrounding area’s energy plans by engaging in solar and wind power on a larger scale. As of today, there is neither a focus on green jobs nor any workforce training for green jobs within the municipality.

Our plan is beneficial to the economy of Blue Island because we intend on creating green job opportunities within the community. Finally, this plan attempts to resolve transportation issues by making the municipality more accessible for pedestrians, revitalizing the city’s freight infrastructure, and highlighting public transportation in the area. The outdated transportation infrastructure of the municipality leads us to believe that the time is now to update Blue Island’s energy plan.

VISION STATEMENT

By 2040, Blue Island will be a community of affordable, energy-efficient housing and walkable neighborhoods. Capitalizing off its accessible location in the greater Chicago area, Blue Island will provide local, green jobs for its residents and neighbors by enhancing transit connectivity and the implementation of solar energy. This transition will be completed with the enactment of policies that prioritize a green economic future and equity in all its forms, offering choice, security, and safety to its residents and the surrounding environment.

This plan is guided by two goals:

Energy efficiency is the goal to retro-fit infrastructure or amend policies to reduce energy usage.

Green economic future is the goal to introduce new elements to Blue Island’s energy system and infrastructure to increase adaptability to new green technologies and increase usage of clean energy.

The plan is guided by six criteria: equity, sustainability, resiliency, implementation, efficiency, scalability.

Proposals in this plan not only consider questions of equity and sustainability but also whether ideas can be easily implemented and replicated throughout Blue Island.