Climate Jobs Advisory Council
Board and Commission Details
Meeting Information
The Climate Jobs Institute's Executive Director shall serve as Chairperson of the Council, and the Council shall meet at the call of the Executive Director.
Contact Name
Aaron McEvoy
Contact E-Mail
Aaron.McEvoy@Illinois.gov
Function
(1) Evaluate how workforce opportunities in the clean-energy industry can provide just transitions for displaced energy workers in the State. (2) Identify opportunities to maximize job creation and workforce development in the State's clean-energy industry, being particularly mindful of the job creation and workforce development in historically underrepresented populations and environmental justice communities. (3) Recommend policies that will create high-quality family and community-sustaining jobs in the clean-energy economy. (4) Develop strategies to address current and future supply chain vulnerabilities and challenges in the clean-energy manufacturing industry. (5) Identify how to expand access to high-quality clean-energy jobs for environmental justice communities and other frontline communities that have faced historical inequities. (6) Assess the types of support that local governments will need to help communities develop their own community energy, climate, and job plans. (7) Evaluate initiatives, including the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment programs, to retrofit schools for energy efficiencies to create a safe, healthy, cost-effective school environment, while contributing to an environmentally sustainable State.
Term
Members appointed to the Council shall serve 2 year terms and may be reapointed. If a seat becomes vacant in the middle of a term, the Governor shall appoint a replacement, who shall serve for the remainder of that term.
Senate Confirmation
No
Party Affiliation
Statute
Qualifications
Shall consist of stakeholders in the clean-energy economy.
Compensation
Members of the Council shall serve without compensation.
Composition
(1) Four members representing statewide labor organizations, appointed by the Governor. (2) Three Members representing environmental advocacy organizations, appointed by the Governor. (3) Three members representing the renewable energy industry, appointed by the Governor. (4) Two members from University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations faculty, appointed by the Chancellor in consultation with the Dean of the School of Labor Employment Relations. (5) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate, who may or may not be elected officials. (6) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who may or may not be elected officials. (7) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, who may or may not be an elected official. (8) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, who may or may not be an elected official. (9) One member of the Illinois Senate Latino Caucus, appointed by the President of the Senate. (10) One member of the Illinois Senate Black Caucus, appointed by the President of the Senate. (11) One member of the Illinois House Latino Caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
Chair
The Climate Jobs Institute's Executive Director shall serve as Chairperson of the Council.
Authority
PA 102-699 (110 ILCS 305/165)
Member Names
| Name | Member Expiration | Member Since | Affiliation | Appointed By | Position | Title | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton, Richard | Statute | Chair | Executive Director of the Climate Jobs Institute at U of I | ||||
| Delgado, Rep. Eva-Dina | 09/03/2024 | Speaker of the House | Member | Illinois House Latino Caucus | |||
| Evans, Jr., Rep. Marcus | 09/03/2024 | Speaker of the House | Member | Illinois House Black Caucus | |||
| Gabel, Rep. Robyn | 09/03/2024 | Speaker of the House | Member | ||||
| Zhang, Yiran | 11/27/2025 | 11/27/2023 | Governor | Member | Representing Statewide Labor Organizations | Cook | |
| Adespoe, Adedolapo Waisu | 06/21/2026 | 06/21/2024 | Governor | Member | Representing Environmental Advocacy Organizations | Cook | |
| Ador, Senyo | 05/17/2026 | 05/17/2024 | Governor | Member | Representing Renewable Energy Industry | Cook | |
| VACANT | Governor | Member | Representing Statewide Labor Organizations | ||||
| Hattier, Robert | 03/22/2026 | 03/22/2024 | Governor | Member | Representing Statewide Labor Organizations | Cook | |
| Johnson, Darnell L. | 06/14/2026 | 06/14/2024 | Governor | Member | Representing Renewable Energy Industry | Cook | |
| Drury, Clint | 05/03/2026 | 05/03/2024 | Governor | Member | Representing Statewide Labor Organizations | Peoria | |
| Collingsworth, Jessica | 06/07/2026 | 06/07/2024 | Governor | Member | Representing Renewable Energy Industry | Cook | |
| Hanessian, Samira | 12/18/2025 | 12/18/2023 | Governor | Member | Representing Environmental Advocacy Organizations | ||
| Taylor, Stephanie | 04/26/2026 | 04/26/2024 | Governor | Member | Representing Environmental Advocacy Organizations | St. Clair | |
| Forsythe, Eliza | Chancellor & the Dean of the School of Labor and Employment Relations | Member | |||||
| Bruno, Robert | Chancellor & the Dean of the School of Labor and Employment Relations | Member | |||||
| VACANT | President of the Senate | Member | |||||
| VACANT | President of the Senate | Member | Senate Black Caucus | ||||
| Bailey, Jr., Charles | 09/03/2024 | Speaker of the House | Member | ||||
| Villanueva, Sen. Celina | 01/08/2025 | 09/18/2023 | President of the Senate | Member | Senate Latino Caucus | ||
| VACANT | Minority Leader of the House of Representatives | Member | |||||
| Denzler, Mark | 09/19/2022 | Minority Leader of the Senate | Member | ||||
| VACANT | President of the Senate | Member |