Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

We all have a responsibility to protect and preserve our environment. That means working on a statewide and national scale to ensure we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, or working on a local scale to ensure that our drinking water from Lake Michigan is free of toxins, and our air is free of harmful pollutants. There are steps each of us can take to ensure we sustain our planet's environment, but there are efforts we must take down in Springfield to accomplish this at a broader level.

My Plan:

* I will work to protect and preserve Lake Michigan, its ecosystem and its water from toxic dumping, discharge and other pollutants that threaten this vital resource to our community.

* I will fight to reduce reduce carbon emissions by putting Illinois on a path to generate 10% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2016, while at the same time cutting emissions and motor fuel consumption by 10%.

* I will keep poisonous mercury out of our air, water, and food by pushing for greater monitoring of the State's coal-fired power plants and other polluters to ensure compliance with Illinois' Mercury reduction efforts.

* I believe consumers want a choice of where their electricity comes from, and will choose renewable energy if they are presented with a simple choice. I will work to make ComEd present its customers with an upfront, simple option of selecting what type of energy they would like for their home or business.

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