Bill > HB1166

This bill amends the Public Utilities Act to require an electric utility serving more than 3,000,000 customers in Illinois to fund the construction of five employment training centers in specific locations: the west side of Chicago, Ford Heights, Waukegan, Bloomington, and Peoria. The bill builds upon existing provisions that require the utility to spend $10,000,000 per year in 2017, 2021, and 2025 on job training programs, which currently include a solar training pipeline program, a craft apprenticeship program, and multi-cultural jobs programs targeting diverse community organizations. The new provision adds a requirement for the utility to construct these employment training centers, with the specific cost to be determined by the utility itself. The bill aims to support job training and economic development in various communities across Illinois, with a particular focus on providing opportunities for individuals from environmental justice communities, foster youth, and individuals with prior criminal records.