Illinois lawmakers failed this year to advance a bill that would have forced fossil fuel companies to pay for climate resilience after a coalition of business and labor groups lined up against it.
The setback means Illinois won’t soon follow in the footsteps of Vermont and New York, who in recent years have passed similar measures into law. The bill didn’t even get a hearing in the Democratic-controlled Statehouse, despite being sponsored by state House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (D).
“Big bills like this usually take more than one year,” Gabel said in an interview. “We kind of felt like, let’s put it out there this year and see who files in opposition? How involved is labor wanting to get? We just want to let people know and start thinking about it, and think about how much it could help us.”
The so-called Climate Change Superfund bill would have required major fossil fuel producers and oil refiners to pay into a state fund for climate adaptation. The money would have been used to fund projects such as flood protection infrastructure or the installation of air conditioners in schools.
