A new effort is underway in Illinois to persuade lawmakers to increase the amount of wind and solar-generated electricity and make homes and businesses more energy efficient.
A coalition of environmentalists, businesses and labor groups and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the effort at a news conference Wednesday. It was held at a Chicago company that generates power with a freestanding wind turbine.
They want lawmakers to boost the share of power coming from renewable sources to 35 percent by 2030.
They're also seeking tougher energy efficiency standards to reduce electricity use 20 percent by 2025 through measures such as weatherizing buildings and upgrading appliances.
Advocates say their plan could generate 32,000 new Illinois jobs annually once the standards were fully implemented.
