For Immediate Release
July 6th, 2022
Contact: Josh Roesch, (609) 805-5535, [email protected]
Budzinski Calls for Construction of Lincoln Land Energy Center
“LLEC would help alleviate both problems by acting as a crucial baseload resource, stabilizing the Illinois power grid, creating over 1,000 jobs in our area, and bringing down costs by creating energy right here in Sangamon County.”
Springfield, IL – Today, Nikki Budzinski, the Democratic nominee for Illinois’ 13th Congressional district, called on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to approve the permit for construction of the Lincoln Land Energy Center in Pawnee, Illinois.
The 1,090-megawatt natural gas-fueled facility would generate $1.53 billion in economic output during construction and create over 1,000 jobs in Sangamon County. The project has the unified support of organized labor. The plan would also help to support the stability of the Illinois electric grid by providing consistent and reliable power.
Jeff Clarke, the Mayor of Pawnee, IL made the following statement: “Lincoln Land Energy Center will help stabilize our power grid, create over a thousand jobs in our area, and bring down costs for consumers. As a small-town mayor, I need federal partners that will work across the aisle to deliver results for Pawnee residents. I know Nikki is that candidate and am glad to see her support of LLEC.”
Budzinski made the following statement: “Illinoisians across IL13 are facing the potential of dangerous power brownouts and blackouts this summer along with rising energy costs that are hurting working families. LLEC would help alleviate both problems by acting as a crucial baseload resource, stabilizing the Illinois power grid, creating over 1,000 jobs in our area, and bringing down costs by creating energy right here in Sangamon County.”
“I support the development of this plant and call on the Illinois EPA to cut the red tape and approve the permit for construction immediately.”
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Nikki Budzinski is a labor activist, former Chief of Staff at the Office of Management and Budget in the Biden Administration and Senior Advisor to Governor JB Pritzker. Born in Peoria, Illinois, she’s the granddaughter of a union painter and public-school teachers. Nikki has over ten years’ experience in the labor movement, working for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and International Association of Fire Fighters.
