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In Focus

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Election 2024:

Where Candidates for Congress Stand

Illinois​

5th DISTRICT

​

​​Mike Quigley (Incumbent)

Democratic

U.S. House, Illinois 5

 

1.         WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS THAT CONGRESS CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE ENERGY AND WATER CONSUMPTION OF BUILDINGS TO HELP MAKE THEM MORE SUSTAINABLE?

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Congress plays a critical role in modernizing our country’s buildings by incorporating energy and water-efficient practices into federal policy. In 2022, I was proud to support the Inflation Reduction Act, first-of-its-kind legislation that finally prioritized fighting the climate crisis at the federal level. The Inflation Reduction Act included $100 million for the EPA to identify and label low-carbon construction materials for federal buildings and provided the GSA Federal Buildings Fund with $2.15 billion to acquire and install low-carbon building materials.

 

The Inflation Reduction Act also included provisions to offer homeowners rebates and other support to make homes more energy efficient, further commercializing and ensuring that energy efficient projects are affordable, rather than expensive, specialty products that only some companies can access.

 

Congress can also incentivize innovation by creating tax credits for the utilization of green energy technologies. This could include legislation like the Moving Forward Act which includes tax incentives for energy-efficient buildings.

 

 

2. WHICH SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES DO YOU SUPPORT AND WOULD WORK TO ENACT IF ELECTED?

 

a. Set benchmarking requirements for commercial buildings and encourage cities and states to adopt performance-based standards for buildings

b. Provide rebates to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements

c. Provide incentives to states and localities to adopt the most up-to-date energy building codes

d. Renew and expand tax incentives for energy efficient buildings

e. Require federal buildings to meet aggressive energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets

f. Provide support to states and localities to make buildings more resilient from natural hazards and disasters

g. Invest in the retrofitting of schools, community centers, libraries and other civic buildings to improve occupant safety and reduce energy consumption, especially in underserved communities

h. Conduct research into the most promising technologies, products and materials that improve occupant health and reduce transmission of contagious disease while saving energy

i. Support programs or incentives to accelerate the electrification of buildings.

 

 

3.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THAT ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?

 

We cannot protect our environment and create a sustainable future without ensuring every person has equal access to clean energy. This means centering our conversations about the future of our environment around those who have historically been harmed by fossil fuel energy and discriminatory environmental destruction. I was proud to support a 40% investment tax credit for solar and wind projects in low-income communities and a 20% investment tax credit for facilities in low-income residential housing as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

I promise to continue my work in this space to ensure a just transition to clean energy for all of our communities. That’s why I’m a cosponsor of the Environmental Justice For All Act which focused on ways to guarantee that marginalized communities have autonomy over the decisions being made in their neighborhoods.

 

 

4.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO TRAIN AND PREPARE PEOPLE FOR CLEAN ENERGY JOBS THAT ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS AND BUILDING COMPONENTS?

 

Skilled craftspeople are critical to our clean energy transition, whether that means retraining the workers at coal plants to be able to work at clean energy power plants. This will include increased support of job training programs at the Department of Labor and providing financing options for young people wishing to enter into the trade through the Department of Education.

 

 

5.         ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK WITH THE BUILDING SECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSFORMING BUILDINGS IS PART OF THE POLICY DEBATE IN CONGRESS, INCLUDING JOINING CAUCUSES THAT ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES? IF YES, HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?

 

Like all issues that impact my constituents, I welcome first-hand knowledge from the communities most affected by sustainable building policies. As we discuss sustainable building policies, I hope to have voices from the building sector involved in the conversation. Additionally, I hope to hear from environmental organizations, labor groups, and any other stakeholders who can provide their expertise.

 

 

6.         DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS (E.G., SUPPORTING LEGISLATION IN ELECTED OFFICE, MADE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS TO A HOME, OFFICE, COMMUNITY-WIDE, ETC.)?

 

Since beginning my time in Congress, I have advocated for legislation that would improve sustainable buildings. In 2011, I visited one of the highest-scoring residential LEED for Homes projects, which was also one of the first net-zero energy homes in Chicago. As a Cook County Commissioner, I helped draft and pass an ordinance requiring LEED certification of all county buildings. I’m also the sponsor of the Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act which would ensure that federal buildings be updated with bird-safe building materials to prevent migratory bird species from unnecessary death.

BuildingAction does not endorse candidates in primary or general elections. Nothing in this report should be construed as support or opposition to any candidate. Candidates and parties are listed alphabetically. BuildingAction made every effort to report on candidates’ positions accurately; any mistakes or omissions were inadvertent. Please email info@agoragov.com with any suggested corrections.)

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