FRANKFORT – The City of Markham is set to receive $900,000 in grants to revitalize the local business community, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort).

Markham will receive funding from the Illinois Department of Economic Development to enhance and provide additional services to local businesses through its Rebuild Distressed Communities program. The grant is made possible by the state’s historic Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, which Hastings was proud to support in 2019.

“These vital funds will help the City of Markham boost economic development and provide essential resources to small businesses in our community,” Hastings said. “We can work together to build a better tomorrow by creating new jobs and growing our economy.”

Projects for corridor improvements will repair and improve the surrounding area while increasing economic opportunities for impacted businesses. The projects were evaluated based on project need, capacity, quality, and societal impact.

SPRINGFIELD – Starting Jan. 1, 2022, Illinois will have a new law on the books to prevent the exploitation of veterans and promote the availability of free service programs, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) championed House Bill 3865, which requires advertisements for veteran and military service benefits to include that these services are available free of charge from federal, state and county veteran service offices.

“The past year has demonstrated just how easy it can be for those with malicious intent to take advantage of Illinois residents,” Hastings said. “It is our obligation to protect our veterans from these nasty scams.”

Additionally, under the new law, the failure to disclose the availability of veteran service programs in advertisements relating to these services would be declared unlawful.

The legislation passed the Senate and House with unanimous support.  The law, now Public Act 102-0386, takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois now has a new law on the books to help incentivize electric vehicle manufacturers to set up shop and generate good paying jobs in Illinois, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) championed the historic House Bill 1769, the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act, which was signed into law on Tuesday. This new law builds on Hastings’ work to make Illinois a leader in manufacturing electric vehicles and decreasing carbon emissions.

“This new law sends out a signal to businesses across the globe that Illinoisans are ready to work,” Hastings said. “Growing the state’s green economy sets us up to generate jobs of the future while reducing the state’s carbon footprint.”

The law comes on the heels of the state’s historic Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. House Bill 1769 includes tax credits to incentivize manufactures to make Illinois a hub for electric vehicle and auto battery production, as well as allowing local jurisdictions to abate property taxes for electric vehicle projects.

CLINTON – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) and State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) traveled to the Clinton Power Station Thursday to tour the facility and meet with employees.

“As a devastating energy crisis unfolds in Texas due to winter storms, consumers are experiencing skyrocketing natural gas prices. This demonstrates how essential our nuclear fleet is to reliable energy production in Illinois,” said Hastings, who serves as chair of the Senate Public Utilities and Energy Committee. “Rest assured, when the time comes, I will be prepared to do everything it can to protect our existing clean energy infrastructure.”

This is Hastings’ sixth power plant tour in recent months, as his committee begins its work this spring on the future of the state's energy policy. Exelon has indicated it will close more nuclear plants this year unless it receives additional aid, and state lawmakers are expected to discuss the future of clean energy in Illinois thoroughly this session.

Joining Hastings on the tour was State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield).

“The situation in Texas serves as a harsh reminder of what can happen when state government neglects existing energy infrastructure while also failing to innovate. Everyday Texans are still enduring unusually frigid temperatures without access to heat and water. This simply cannot be allowed to happen in Illinois,” Turner said. “I look forward to working to ensure that our state’s energy infrastructure remains state-of-the-art, implement training programs for people transitioning to a job in a new energy sector and protect existing, good-paying jobs Downstate.”

The Clinton Power Station has the ability to generate nearly 1,069 net megawatts, enough electricity to power about 1 million average American homes. The 5,000-acre cooling lake is formed by a dam built at the convergence of Salt Creek and the North Fork of Salt Creek. The station serves as an economic driver for numerous Downstate communities, contributing $13 million in property taxes annually. Clinton also supports 2,100 direct and secondary jobs in Illinois.