Statement on Delay of Building Decarbonization Ordinance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:

Courtney Hanson, PCR, courtney@pcrchi.org, 308-631-8543

Yessenia Balcazar, SETF, yessenia@setaskforce.org, 773-517-7018

Carlos Enriquez, CEJN, cenriquez@chicagoejn.org 815-342-5717

Lightfoot Stalls on Ordinance Pertaining to Building Decarbonization, Community Organizations Respond as Heating Bills Skyrocket

CHICAGO, IL (February 2, 2023) – As heating bills skyrocket, the Lightfoot administration is dragging its feet on introducing an ordinance that would require new Chicago buildings to meet energy efficient standards.

The proposed ordinance which would cut dependence on expensive and unhealthy fossil fuels, came together after the City released a report following the recommendations of the Building Decarbonization Policy Working Group, formed in the spring of 2021. 

“The cost of gas is too high, but not all the city’s residents are paying equally,” said Courtney Hanson, People For Community Recovery Deputy Director. “From struggling with high energy burden  amidst the gas affordability crisis, to dealing daily with adverse  health impacts made worse by gas stoves and appliances, Chicago’s low-income and frontline environmental justice communities are paying the highest price. And they’ve been vocal in pointing out one clear solution: making our buildings cleaner, safer and more affordable. Every day the city waits to  move forward on this is another day our communities continue to suffer.”

Studies have shown that Chicago buildings produce close to 70 percent of the city’s current emissions, with larger buildings responsible for approximately 20 percent of these total emissions. 

Those reports, coupled with recent findings about the health effects of burning fossil fuels inside of homes lead the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition to organize a press conference inside of City Hall last week to speak to the need for updated building policy.

“The health of Black and Brown communities should be the first priority of this administration, given that they are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” said Yessenia Balcazar, Southeast Environmental Task Force Sr. Community Planning Manager. “The New Construction ordinance is a step in addressing this, and is meant to be the catalyst to creating a Building Performance Standard for existing buildings in marginalized communities. This cannot come into fruition if the administration continues to pull back. We continue to advocate for the health of our communities and will not stop until we see the change we need.” 

Environmental Justice advocates say this vote is urgently needed to address dangerous fossil fuels burning inside of homes and the effect that they have on vulnerable communities.

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