Kankakee Times

Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Kankakee) is supporting legislation to bring a natural gas pipeline to the Pembroke Township area that would create jobs and enable residents to heat their homes more cleanly and efficiently.

The legislation recently passed the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. It will establish the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program, which would distribute grants to construct new natural gas pipelines and infrastructure in Pembroke Township. The program would be administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. 

"My legislation to bring [the] natural gas pipeline to Pembroke Township passed the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee," Joyce said in an April 2 tweet.  

Pembroke residents currently have no access to a natural gas pipeline and are forced to rely on propane, wood-burning stoves and electric space heaters to heat their homes.

"No natural gas pipeline serves Pembroke Township, which forces 2,100 residents to rely on propane, wood-burning stoves and electric space heaters," Joyce said in a statement on his website. "Not only would this pipeline make residents' lives easier, but the installation would also help bring new jobs to Pembroke."

At a December meeting, officials estimated that the project would cost $8 million and benefit 400 homes and 22 businesses in Pembroke.

"This effort dates back a couple of decades and I'm thrilled to see it move forward," Joyce said.

Residents would have the option to opt-in or out of service as they choose. Joyce has secured $1 million in state funding to reimburse the costs of converting residents' homes for gas service.

Senate Bill 2393 now moves to the Senate floor for further review and consideration.

Joyce is also backing the Climate Jobs Illinois (CJI) legislation, a bill to transition Illinois to a 100% percent clean energy economy while creating thousands of jobs and reducing the state's carbon emissions.