The visuals were first-rate: an all-electric camper van customized with images of wind turbines turning against an orange sky.
There was swag: postcards, fans, buttons and posters.
And there was a passionate speech by a leading voice for climate action in the U.S. Congress: “There is a stark choice facing us,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida. “Are we going to continue to help people afford the heating of the planet and all these extreme (weather) events? Or are we going backwards?”
But this wasn’t the Democratic National Convention. In addition to the standard meetings and workshops at McCormick Place, climate groups are holding a range of events in Chicago this week: at least two news conferences, a tour of an all-electric home in North Lawndale, a happy hour and watch party at the Salt Shed, and a “little climate voter party” in the West Loop that was attended by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
The message at two events attended by the Tribune was clear: The climate crisis is urgent, real people are already suffering, and President Joe Biden’s signature climate bill must not be rolled back.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized the climate bill — the Inflation Reduction Act — saying it is the “biggest tax hike in history” and calling incentives for electric vehicles “one of the dumbest (decisions) I’ve ever heard.”
He’s also voiced support for fossil fuels, the top source of planet-warming greenhouse gases, saying “We will drill, baby, drill,” during his convention speech.
The Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, is a strong supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act, the biggest climate bill in U.S. history.
A recent government report found that in 2023, more than 3.4 million American families saved $8.4 billion from Inflation Reduction Act consumer tax credits on home energy technologies. The tax credits can save up to 30% off heat pumps, insulation, rooftop solar, and other clean energy technologies.
A news conference Tuesday morning in the West Loop featured the Climate Action Campaign’s all-electric camper van, which is on a six-week, six-state tour to raise awareness about climate change.
Climate Action Campaign Director Margie Alt noted that this is the first presidential nominating convention to be held in Chicago in 28 years.
“A lot of things have improved in the past three decades, but the climate crisis is not one of them,” she said. “Extreme weather has gotten dramatically worse. We all know it’s fueled by the climate crisis and already in 2024 we have experienced 19 $1 billion or more events, totaling more than $49 billion in devastating damage.”
Castor talked about extreme heat and flooding in Florida, and the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act in helping ordinary people cope with a hotter planet.
“Americans have drawn down billions of dollars provided through the Inflation Reduction Act to lower their electric bills, make those electric vehicles more affordable, those heat pumps, weatherizing their homes, upgrading their doors and windows,” she said. “These are real for people.”
Among the other off-campus events: the Chicago sustainable energy company Invenergy was co-sponsoring a Clean Power Happy Hour on Wednesday at the Salt Shed in the Goose Island neighborhood.
“We’ve got over 30 federal and state policymakers for the event, so we think it’s going to be the premier energy-related event outside the convention center,” said Invenergy President and corporate business leader Jim Murphy.
Invenergy has some competition. Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jen Walling said a “little climate voter party” Tuesday in the West Loop drew hundreds of people, including Louis-Dreyfus.
At a news conference Wednesday at Elevate, the Chicago-based clean and affordable energy nonprofit, local and regional clean energy leaders assembled, including U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois, Chicago Chief Sustainability Officer Angela Tovar, Walling and Elevate CEO Anne Evens.
White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi appeared in his personal capacity, as he did at the earlier electric camper van news conference.
“All eyes are on Chicago and Illinois during the Democratic Convention this week, and I’m proud to say, they should be,” Walling said. “Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, Gov. (JB) Pritzker and his administration, and Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration, and countless advocates — many of whom are in the room today — Illinois is a blueprint for clean energy progress and environmental protection nationwide.”
Casten said that 15 years ago, Illinois was known as a coal state; that was where our power came from.
“We are now a state that depends on nuclear, on wind, yes some gas but Illinois is decarbonizing because we’re smart. We’re doing it because we put science first. And we also are doing it because we are greedy,” Casten said, laughing. “It is really nice to not have to pay a lot of money for energy.”
In most of the United States, onshore wind and solar power are the cheapest sources of energy.
Tovar said Chicago is benefiting from the alignment of city, state and national climate policies.
Illinois has a major state climate bill, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which sets a path to 100% clean energy by 2050 while prioritizing economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
Through CEJA, the state is investing in initiatives such as workforce training programs and pre-apprenticeship programs, Tovar said. There are also city programs, such as Green Homes Chicago, which offers free home energy and efficiency upgrades — including insulation, and heat pump heating and cooling systems — to some income-eligible homeowners.
After the news conference, there was a tour of an all-electric home in North Lawndale.
Homeowner Tekuila McGee, who swapped out her fossil-fuel powered appliances and heating system with the help of Elevate’s electrification program, said that she was always interested in electrification, but didn’t know where to start.
“I was so excited when Elevate reached out to me because I care a lot about protecting the environment,” said McGee, an insurance claims examiner.
She said she’s most excited about her all-electric heating and cooling system, because her home didn’t have central air and was sweltering in the summer, especially upstairs.
But she also appreciates the improved air quality in her three-bedroom brick home, the chance to increase her home value, and the opportunity to eliminate her gas bill.
“I’m proud that I can play an important part in reducing carbon emissions in my neighborhood. I’m excited that Elevate is going to continue this work in North Lawndale, and I can’t wait to see what else is possible in the future,” she said.
nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com
