Illinois

GreenLatinos Illinois organizes Latino/a/e communities across the state to win on climate action, clean energy affordability, and equitable public transit. Through the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and direct engagement with lawmakers, we make sure the voices of frontline communities — those carrying the heaviest burden of high energy costs and air pollution — shape the policies that affect their lives.

Core Issues

Clean Energy & Grid Affordability

Latino/a/e families pay a disproportionate share of income on utilities. We fight for policies that lower bills, expand weatherization and energy efficiency, and ensure clean energy benefits reach underserved communities.

Public Transit Equity

Accessible, affordable public transit is a lifeline. We advocate for integrated, unified, and safe transit systems that serve low-income riders and reduce vehicle emissions.

Air Quality & Environmental Justice

Illinois Latino/a/e communities are overburdened by fossil fuel pollution. We work to reduce dependence on polluting power plants and improve air quality in frontline neighborhoods.

Community-Led Policy

Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. We organize town halls, in-district meetings, and grassroots calls to ensure impacted communities inform policy from the ground up.

Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition

As an active coalition member and advisor to the Power Sector Negotiating Team, GreenLatinos Illinois co-hosts town halls, organizes in-district meetings, and participates in working groups to shape energy and transit policy alongside frontline communities.

By The Numbers

$120

saved per year

Projected annual utility savings for Ameren customers by 2030 under the CRGA Act.

40%

transit cuts prevented

NITA Act preserves public transit service that faced 40% cuts amid a fiscal cliff.

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Meet the leaders and volunteers driving environmental justice in Illinois. Learn about our local campaigns, events, and how to get involved.

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Illinois News & Events

De Santa Marta a Estados Unidos: Por qué una transición justa lejos de los combustibles fósiles debe poner a las comunidades latinas al centro

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Read in English here.

Por Irene Burga, Directora de Justicia Climática y Aire Limpio en GreenLatinos

Esta semana, líderes de todo el mundo se reúnen en Santa Marta, Colombia, para algo que no habíamos visto antes: una conferencia global enfocada en cómo dejar los combustibles fósiles de manera justa y equitativa.

Este momento no surgió de la nada. Es resultado de años de lucha liderada por comunidades indígenas, afrodescendientes, trabajadores y familias que han estado en la primera línea. Ellos han sido claros: no podemos resolver la crisis climática sin dejar los combustibles fósiles, y no podemos hacerlo sin poner al centro a las comunidades más afectadas.

En GreenLatinos, estamos presentes en Santa Marta como parte de nuestro compromiso de conectar a las comunidades latinas en Estados Unidos con las de América Latina. Nuestras historias y nuestras luchas están profundamente conectadas. La crisis climática también lo está.

Por qué este momento es importante

La conferencia de Santa Marta refleja un impulso global creciente. Más de 80 países ya han pedido una transición que sea rápida, justa y bien financiada. Ahora, gobiernos y organizaciones están tratando de definir cómo hacerlo realidad.

Lo más importante es quién está liderando esta conversación. Las comunidades que han vivido los impactos de la contaminación no están esperando ser invitadas. Están marcando el camino.
También están dejando algo muy claro: una transición que deja atrás a los trabajadores, ignora a las comunidades o repite las mismas prácticas extractivas no es justa. Es simplemente más de lo mismo.

Lo que esto significa para las comunidades latinas en Estados Unidos

Para nuestras comunidades, esto no es algo lejano.

Vivimos todos los días con los impactos de la infraestructura de combustibles fósiles. Refinerías, carreteras y fábricas suelen estar cerca de nuestros vecindarios. Muchas familias enfrentan asma, calor extremo y costos de energía cada vez más altos.

Al mismo tiempo, la demanda de petróleo y gas en Estados Unidos impulsa la extracción en América Latina. Esto provoca desplazamiento, daños ambientales e inestabilidad en los lugares de donde vienen muchas de nuestras familias.

No son problemas separados. Son parte del mismo sistema.

En GreenLatinos, nuestro Marco de Justicia Climática Latina (LCJF) reconoce esta realidad. La justicia climática significa atender lo que pasa aquí y también lo que pasa más allá de nuestras fronteras.

Una transición justa tiene que ser real

Si hablamos en serio de dejar los combustibles fósiles, también debemos ser claros sobre lo que viene después.

Esto significa que las comunidades deben participar desde el inicio en la toma de decisiones, no solo al final. Significa que los trabajadores necesitan oportunidades reales de empleo, no promesas. Y significa que las comunidades afectadas necesitan inversión, apoyo y cuidado.

También implica ser honestos sobre lo que no funciona. No podemos depender de soluciones que dicen avanzar pero mantienen la dependencia a los combustibles fósiles. Si no reducimos las emisiones desde la fuente, no estamos resolviendo el problema.

Además, no podemos ignorar el contexto más amplio. Los combustibles fósiles están ligados a conflictos globales, militarización y disputas por recursos. Una transición justa debe alejarnos de esos sistemas, no reforzarlos.

Lo que está impulsando GreenLatinos

A medida que fortalecemos nuestro trabajo internacional, en GreenLatinos estamos enfocados en:

Construir solidaridad entre países: Fortalecer las relaciones entre comunidades latinas en Estados Unidos y comunidades en América Latina, reconociendo que nuestras luchas están conectadas.

Traer aprendizajes globales a casa: Identificar estrategias de movimientos internacionales que nos ayuden en nuestras luchas por aire limpio, justicia energética e infraestructura en Estados Unidos.

Elevar el liderazgo latino: Asegurar que las voces latinas, especialmente de comunidades en primera línea, sean escuchadas e influyan en soluciones globales.

Impulsar una transición justa: A través del Marco de Justicia Climática Latina, centramos nuestro trabajo en la equidad, la protección de trabajadores y el liderazgo comunitario.

Lo que sigue

Santa Marta no debe ser solo otra reunión internacional. Debe acercarnos a compromisos reales y acción concreta.

Para GreenLatinos, esto es parte de un camino más largo. Estamos trabajando por un futuro donde nuestras comunidades no estén en la primera línea de la contaminación, sino liderando las soluciones.

Un futuro con aire limpio, energía accesible y oportunidades reales.

Y un futuro donde la transición lejos de los combustibles fósiles no solo ocurra, sino que ocurra de manera justa.

¿Quieres mantenerte informado y ser parte del creciente trabajo internacional de justicia climática de GreenLatinos? Únete a nuestra lista de comunicación para recibir actualizaciones.

Suscríbete aquí

From Santa Marta to the U.S.: Why a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout Must Center Latino Communities Everywhere

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Lee en español aquí

By Irene Burga, Climate Justice & Clean Air Director at GreenLatinos

This week, leaders from around the world are gathering in Santa Marta, Colombia, for something we have not seen before: a global conference focused specifically on how to transition away from fossil fuels in a way that is fair and grounded in justice.

For many of us in the climate movement, this moment did not come out of nowhere. It is the result of decades of organizing led by Indigenous communities, Afro-descendant leaders, workers, and frontline families who have long been clear about what is at stake. We cannot solve the climate crisis without ending our dependence on fossil fuels, and we cannot do that without centering the people most impacted.

At GreenLatinos, we are showing up in Santa Marta as part of a broader commitment to connect Latino communities in the United States with those across Latin America. Our communities are deeply tied to both places. The climate crisis is too.

Why this moment matters

The Santa Marta conference builds on growing global momentum. More than 80 countries have already called for a transition away from fossil fuels that is fast, fair, and fully funded. Now, governments and civil society are coming together to figure out what that actually looks like.

What stands out most is who is leading this conversation. Communities that have lived with the impacts of extraction and pollution are not waiting to be invited in. They are setting the terms.

They are also making something very clear. A transition that leaves workers behind, ignores community voices, or continues the same extractive practices under a different name is not a just transition. It is just more of the same.

What this means for Latino communities in the U.S.

For Latino communities in the United States, this is not abstract.

We live with the impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure every day. Refineries, highways, and industrial facilities are often located near our neighborhoods. Many of our families are dealing with asthma, extreme heat, and rising energy costs.

At the same time, U.S. demand for oil and gas continues to drive extraction across Latin America. That extraction contributes to displacement, environmental damage, and instability in the very places many of our families come from.

These are not separate issues. They are part of the same system.At GreenLatinos, our Latino Climate Justice Framework was built with this in mind. Climate justice for our communities means addressing what is happening here in the U.S. and what is happening across borders.

A just transition has to mean something real

If we are serious about phasing out fossil fuels, we have to be just as serious about what comes next.

That means communities need to be part of decision-making from the start, not brought in at the end. It means workers need real pathways to good jobs, not promises. It means communities that have been harmed need support, investment, and care.

It also means being honest about what does not work. We cannot rely on solutions that keep us locked into fossil fuels while claiming progress. If emissions are not going down at the source, we are not solving the problem.

And we cannot ignore the broader context. Fossil fuels are tied to global conflict, militarization, and struggles over land and resources. A just transition should move us away from those systems, not reinforce them.

What GreenLatinos is working toward

As GreenLatinos deepens our international engagement, GreenLatinos is focused on a set of clear goals that connect our U.S.-based work with global climate justice efforts:

Building Cross-Border Solidarity
We aim to strengthen relationships between Latino communities in the U.S. and frontline communities across Latin America, recognizing that our struggles are shared and interconnected.

Bringing Global Lessons Home
We are identifying strategies from international fossil fuel resistance movements that can inform our work on infrastructure fights, air quality, and energy justice in the U.S.

Elevating Latino Leadership in Global Spaces
We are working to ensure that Latino voices, particularly those from frontline communities, are visible, heard, and influential in shaping global climate solutions.

Advancing a Just Transition Framework
Through the Latino Climate Justice Framework, we are grounding our work in principles that center equity, worker protections, and community leadership, ensuring that the transition away from fossil fuels benefits our communities, rather than leaving them behind.

What comes next

Santa Marta should not be just another international meeting. It should move us closer to real commitments and real action.

For GreenLatinos, this is part of a longer path. We are working toward a future where Latino communities are no longer on the frontlines of pollution and climate harm, but are shaping the solutions.

A future with clean air, affordable energy, and real opportunities.

And a future where the transition away from fossil fuels is not only happening, but happening in a way that is fair.

Want to stay informed and be part of GreenLatinos’ growing international climate work? Join our communications list for updates.

GreenLatinos Illinois Commemorates Earth Month by Creating New Green Spaces Across Chicago

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GreenLatinos’ Urban Greening Initiative Shows Climate Resilience Starts at Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 04/22/2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Cumbia Padilla, Communications Coordinator, 707-382-8113, [email protected]

CHICAGO — In celebration of Earth Month, GreenLatinos is proud to share the growing impact of its Urban Greening Initiative, a community-driven effort advancing climate resilience, environmental justice, and authentic local stewardship across Chicago.

From expanding urban tree canopy and community gardens to bolstering youth workforce development programs and neighborhood compost hubs, the initiative has delivered measurable environmental and community benefits since its launch in August 2025.

Over the past six months, the program has:

More than 100 community members helped shape the future of the Canal Origins Park through surveys, tours, and design conversations.
89 youth and 24 families engaged in growing food via gardening programs and workshops in Avondale
Local school in LeClaire Courts launches new community gardens, nature-based gathering spaces, and geodesic domes used for solar workforce training
650 students learned about nature and climate solutions via hands-on outdoor activities in renovated school campus
30 trees and 9000 sf of rain gardens and native plants planted
More than 500 community members participated in tours, workshops, and planning sessions across Chicago projects

“During Earth Month, we celebrate the real impact of our urban greening initiatives. When we invest resources directly into the hands of our communities, our planet heals,” said Amanda Pantoja, Urban Greening Initiative Coordinator with GreenLatinos. “Our neighborhoods have been caring for the Earth for generations, and this stewardship continues every day in our Latino households and communities. Seeing our people lead urban greening projects with their own vision and hands shows that climate resilience is not just a goal—it is a reality we are building together.”

In Chicago, projects advanced community green spaces, environmental learning areas for children, and restoration planning through partnerships with local institutions and residents. “In Chicago, we’re investing in community-driven projects that are turning some of our most environmentally burdened neighborhoods into healthier, greener spaces,” said Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director with GreenLatinos. “Our awardees are reclaiming land, revitalizing their communities, and expanding access to nature in areas that have long been overburdened by pollution and disinvestment.”

This Earth Month, GreenLatinos reaffirms its commitment to investing in frontline communities and supporting community-led, culturally grounded solutions built for long-term climate resilience.

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About GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latines envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación y climáticas, e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

Every Day Is Earth Day in Our Comunidades

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Community members on the Southeast Environmental Task Force Boat Tour.

This Earth Month, we want to take a moment to share and celebrate what our comunidades have been building across the country.

In the past six months, GreenLatinos partners across Chicago, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque have been doing what Latinos have always done: taking care of the land, feeding our neighbors, and investing in the youth around us.

Here's a look at what that work looks like on the ground.

The numbers

7,600+ community members showed up. 13,000+ pounds of fresh food were distributed. 611,000+ pounds of organic waste were diverted from landfills. 201 trees are in the ground. 3,500+ volunteer hours were logged by neighbors who chose to give their time to this work.

Gracias to our comunidades across the country for their work!

Chicago

People for Environmental Restoration & Riverfront Organization (PERRO) holding a community event at the Canal Origins park restoration project in partnership with the Chicago Park District.

In Chicago, residents are helping design the future of Canal Origins Park from the ground up. More than 100 community members joined boat tours, walking tours, and design conversations to share their vision for the space, all led by our partners at PERRO. Students at the Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC) are learning in brand new outdoor classrooms, including Geodesic domes and Community gardens. Stay tuned to see exciting updates from Centro San Bonifacio and Southeast Environmental Task Force!

Los Angeles

Community members collaborating and sharing their vision for Aliso Pico Recreation Center with Proyecto Pastoral.

In Los Angeles, a community garden opened in Pico Union and became a gathering place almost immediately thanks to our friends at Cultiva LA. Over 1,200 people joined events there in just a few months. Youth with the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps planted 201 trees in Pico Rivera and were recognized by the city for their work. Our partners at LA Compost diverted over 611,000 pounds of organic waste from landfills, turning it into soil that feeds more gardens and more community. We are rooting for our amigues at Proyecto Pastoral as they continue to dream and plan their vision for Aliso Pico Recreation Center!

Albuquerque

A group gathered at the SouthWest Organizing Project community garden space.

In Albuquerque, the Southwest Organizing Project and the Semilla Project distributed nearly 12,000 pounds of fresh food, grew over 2,000 plant starts, and welcomed thousands of neighbors to Loma Linda Community Farm. Eighteen BIPOC youth graduated also from a pre-apprenticeship in agriculture and urban forestry, earning certifications in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and wildfire mitigation. And CESOSS brought hundreds of K-5 students into hands-on learning about acequias, soil, and water, the same systems their ancestors built and maintained for generations. Yes! Housing continued to build the infrastructure for a new orchard.

This is what our people have always known

As Amanda Pantoja, our Urban Greening Initiative Coordinator, put it: "Our neighborhoods have been caring for the Earth for generations, and this stewardship continues every day in our Latino households and communities."

This Earth Month, we're proud to celebrate that. These are not new ideas, but concepts and practices our comunidades have been practicing all along.

Want to continue supporting our work across the country and make a real impact? Make a donation today HERE. 

Respira: A Southwest Side Townhall

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GreenLatinos Celebrates Earth Month by Highlighting Community-Led Climate Action Across Chicago, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque

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GreenLatinos’ Urban Greening Initiative Shows Climate Resilience Starts at Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/22/26
MEDIA CONTACT: Cumbia Padilla, Communications Coordinator, 707-382-8113, [email protected]

[Los Angeles, California] — April 2026 — In celebration of Earth Month, GreenLatinos is proud to share the growing impact of its Urban Greening Initiative, a community-driven effort advancing climate resilience, environmental justice, and authentic local stewardship across Chicago, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque.

Over the past six months, the program has:

Engaged more than 7,600 community members
Hosted 350+ community events, workshops, and site activations
Diverted 611,306+ pounds of organic waste from landfills
Distributed approximately 13,000 pounds of fresh food
Logged 3,500+ volunteer hours
Planted 201 trees and 35+ perennial plants since the start of the program
Reclaimed 7.44 million gallons of water
Prevented 161.22 tons of CO₂ emissions annually

Across Los Angeles, GreenLatinos’ grantees planted over 200 trees, opened a community garden in the Pico-Union/Westlake area, provided job training for frontline youth, and built a robust composting infrastructure that has diverted more than 611,000 pounds of organic waste. “Investing in solutions for our most nature-deprived communities unlocks the full potential of both the community and our planet,” said Pedro Hernández, GreenLatinos’ California State Program Director. “These projects demonstrate that nature can heal while cultivating the next generation of frontline leaders to steward our future.”

In Albuquerque, local organizations distributed nearly 12,000 pounds of fresh food, trained 18 BIPOC youth in agriculture and urban forestry, and expanded food forests, compost systems, and irrigation infrastructure. “Urban greening and urban farming have been vital to our communities in Albuquerque. Not only do these projects feed those in need, they build stronger bonds, teach the next generations about our traditional connections with the land, and help mitigate the inequitable effects of climate change," said Carlos Matutes, New Mexico State Program Director.

This Earth Month, GreenLatinos reaffirms its commitment to investing in frontline communities and supporting solutions that are community-led, culturally grounded, and built for long-term climate resilience.

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About GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

GreenLatinos Illinois Celebrates Signing of the Clean Reliable Grid Affordability Act, A Win for Energy Affordability

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — GreenLatinos Illinois applauds Governor J.B. Pritzker for signing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25) into law today — a major win for climate action, energy affordability, and frontline Latino/a/e and low-income communities.

The CRGA Act tackles rising energy costs, strengthens grid reliability, and expands clean energy benefits to communities historically left behind.

Key impacts of the CRGA Act:

Cuts energy bills for families who already pay a disproportionate share of their income on utilities
- ComEd customers: up to $24/year saved by 2030
- Ameren customers: up to $120/year saved by 2030
Triples funding for low-income energy efficiency programs
Expands access to weatherization and energy-efficient appliances
Launches “Storage for All,” ensuring battery storage benefits reach underserved communities
Prevents blackouts by adding major wind, solar, and battery storage capacity
Reduces fossil fuel dependence, improving air quality in communities overburdened by pollution

As an active member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, GreenLatinos helped shape this law through town halls, in-district meetings, and community engagement to ensure impacted communities informed the policy from the ground up.

The law takes effect June 1, 2026.

Following the signing of the bill, GreenLatinos Illinois State Program Director, Lucy Contreras, released the following statement:

“Latino/a/e families have long faced the burden of high energy costs and pollution. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act takes meaningful steps to lower bills and expand clean energy opportunities, ensuring the families who need it most finally see relief. By modernizing our grid and expanding wind, solar, and battery storage, this law makes our energy system more reliable and helps communities keep the lights on during extreme weather, all while reducing reliance on polluting fossil fuel power plants.”

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About GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos Illinois New Year Encuentro

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GreenLatinos Illinois celebra importantes victorias en energía limpia, asequible y transporte público para las comunidades latinas

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SPRINGFIELD, IL –– GreenLatinos Illinois aplaude a la Asamblea General de Illinois por la aprobación esta semana de dos leyes transformadoras: la Ley de la Autoridad de Tránsito del Norte de Illinois (NITA) y la Ley de Asequibilidad de la Red Eléctrica Limpia y Confiable (CRGA) (SB25). Estas leyes representan avances significativos en la acción climática, en las oportunidades económicas y en el acceso equitativo a la energía limpia y al transporte público, beneficiando a las comunidades latinas, afroamericanas, de primera línea y de bajos ingresos en todo Illinois.

La Ley CRGA brinda un alivio crucial a las familias que enfrentan dificultades para pagar facturas de servicios públicos elevadas, al tiempo que amplía el acceso a reembolsos para la mejora del aislamiento térmico de viviendas y la adquisición de electrodomésticos de bajo consumo, e incrementa significativamente el apoyo a los programas de eficiencia energética para personas de bajos ingresos. La ley también fortalece la infraestructura de transmisión, reduce los cuellos de botella en el desarrollo de la red eléctrica y maximiza el suministro de energía limpia en todo el estado.

Ante la amenaza de un abismo fiscal y posibles recortes del 40% en los servicios, la Ley NITA no solo preserva nuestro sistema de transporte público, sino que lo transforma al integrar mejor los servicios de CTA, Metra y Pace, establecer un sistema tarifario unificado y garantizar la accesibilidad mediante pases con descuento para usuarios de bajos ingresos. La ley también mejora la seguridad mediante el nuevo programa Embajador del Transporte y promueve un aire más limpio al reducir las emisiones vehiculares.

Como miembro de la Coalición por Empleos Limpios de Illinois, GreenLatinos se enorgullece de haber servido como asesor del Equipo de Negociación del Sector Eléctrico y de haber trabajado junto con los socios de la coalición para coorganizar asambleas públicas, organizar reuniones en los distritos y participar en grupos de trabajo regulares y llamadas de base para garantizar que las voces de las comunidades más afectadas por las desigualdades en energía y transporte ayudaran a dar forma a estas políticas.

Tras la clausura del período de sesiones de veto de 2025 de la Asamblea General de Illinois, Lucy Contreras, directora del programa estatal de Illinois, emite la siguiente declaración:

“Las familias latinas han enfrentado durante mucho tiempo la carga de los altos costos de la energía, la contaminación del aire y la falta de financiamiento para el transporte público. La Ley de Asequibilidad de la Red Eléctrica Limpia y Confiable toma medidas significativas para reducir los costos de la energía y ampliar las oportunidades de energía limpia, mientras que la Ley de la Autoridad de Tránsito del Norte de Illinois preserva y mejora el sistema de transporte público, vital para muchos en nuestras comunidades. Juntas, estas leyes brindan aire más limpio, energía asequible y transporte confiable para las familias que más lo necesitan.

En el futuro, GreenLatinos Illinois espera continuar colaborando con los legisladores de Illinois y con los miembros de la comunidad directamente afectados para asegurar que sus voces sean escuchadas y tenidas en cuenta durante las próximas sesiones legislativas. Reconocemos que quienes están más cerca del problema suelen estar más cerca de la solución, por lo que incluir estas voces es necesario no solo para impulsar una economía verde, sino también para mejorar la calidad del aire de nuestra comunidad.” —Lucy Contreras, directora del programa estatal de Illinois.

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Acerca de GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/as/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas por la justicia ambiental, de conservación y climática, e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

GreenLatinos Illinois Celebrates Major Wins for Clean, Affordable Energy & Public Transit in Latino Communities

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	MEDIA CONTACT:
10/31/25	Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Director 602-832-6039 [email protected]

SPRINGFIELD, IL –– GreenLatinos Illinois applauds the Illinois General Assembly for passing two transformative pieces of legislation this week: the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act and the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25). These laws represent significant strides in climate action, economic opportunity, and equitable access to clean energy and public transportation, benefiting Latino/a/e, frontline, and low-income communities across Illinois.

The CRGA Act brings critical relief to families struggling with high utility bills while also expanding access to rebates for home weatherization and energy-efficient appliances, and significantly increasing support for low-income energy efficiency programs. The law also strengthens transmission infrastructure, reduces bottlenecks in grid development, and maximizes the delivery of clean energy across the state.

Amid threats of a fiscal cliff and potential 40% service cuts, the NITA Act not only preserves our transit system but transforms it by better integrating service across CTA, Metra, and Pace, establishing a unified fare system, and ensuring affordability through discounted passes for low-income riders. The law also enhances safety through a new Transit Ambassador program and promotes cleaner air by reducing vehicle emissions.

As a member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, GreenLatinos is proud to have served as an advisor to the Power Sector Negotiating Team and worked alongside coalition partners to co-host town halls, organize in-district meetings, and participate in regular working group and grassroots calls to ensure that the voices of communities most impacted by energy and transit inequities helped shape these policies.

Following the close of the Illinois General Assembly’s 2025 Veto Session, Illinois State Program Director, Lucy Contreras, releases the following statement:

“Latino families have long faced the burden of high energy costs, air pollution, and underfunded transit systems. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act takes meaningful steps to lower energy costs and expand clean energy opportunities, while the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act preserves and improves the public transit system that is a lifeline for so many in our communities. Together, these laws deliver cleaner air, affordable energy, and reliable transit for the families who need them most.”

In the future, GreenLatinos Illinois looks forward to continue collaborating with Illinois lawmakers and directly impacted community members to ensure their voices are amplified and uplifted during future legislative sessions. We recognize that those closest to the problem are often closest to the solution, so including these voices is necessary not only to drive a green economy but also to improve air quality for our comunidades.” - Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director.

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About GreenLatinos