My green values have deep roots. Sustainability is the lens through which I see the world. I was 12 when the towers fell, 14 when we invaded Iraq, 17 when Al Gore shared An Inconvenient Truth, now our most pressing danger, and 20 when the global economy collapsed. My lifetime is witness to the failure of unsustainable policymaking, gridlock, & the narcissism of short-term thinking, which led directly to the election of Donald Trump and our present crisis.

Every decision I make in Springfield will be grounded in sustainability - of our environment and our atmosphere and of our economy and our democracy.

Climate Action & Emissions Reduction

• Support Illinois' climate goals: The state has committed to 40% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050. These goals are achievable. Other states have shown the way. Support legislation and investments that keep Illinois on track.

• Regulate greenhouse gas emissions: Hold major polluters accountable for emissions. Support policies that reduce emissions from power plants, industry, and transportation.

• Transition away from coal: Coal is dirty, expensive, and dying. Support a just transition for coal workers and communities, but accelerate the shift to clean energy.

• Support nature-based climate solutions: Restoring forests, wetlands, and grasslands sequesters carbon. Support these natural climate solutions alongside renewable energy and efficiency.

Environmental Justice & Equity

• Prioritize environmental justice: Pollution disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. Environmental policy should address historical inequities and ensure these communities benefit from clean energy, green space, and environmental protection.

• Support community leadership: Communities most affected by pollution should lead decisions about environmental protection and clean energy investment. Ensure meaningful community participation in environmental policy.

• Remediate legacy pollution: Industrial facilities, landfills, and other polluters have left communities with contaminated soil, air, and water. Support cleanup and remediation efforts.

Illinois' Clean Energy Transition

• Build Illinois' clean energy economy: Illinois has a historic opportunity to lead the nation in clean, affordable energy. The state's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act committed Illinois to 100% clean energy by 2050. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, passed in 2025, invested in energy storage, efficiency, and grid modernization. We should implement these laws to prioritize affordability for working families while accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.

• Expand distributed renewable energy: Solar and wind power should be accessible to all Illinoisans, not just wealthy homeowners. Expand community solar programs so renters and low-income households can access clean energy. Support rooftop solar incentives and neighborhood-scale renewable projects.

• Support renewable energy workforce development: Clean energy jobs are good, family-supporting jobs. Invest in training programs that prepare Illinois workers for careers in renewable energy, grid modernization, and energy efficiency.

• Prioritize environmental justice: Communities of color and low-income neighborhoods have historically borne the burden of pollution from power plants and industrial facilities. Clean energy investments should prioritize these communities, creating jobs and reducing pollution where it's needed most.

Water Protection & Great Lakes Stewardship

• Protect the Great Lakes: Our region's access to fresh water is a precious advantage. Oppose diversion of Great Lakes water and support policies that protect water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Work with neighboring states on coordinated Great Lakes protection.

• Clean up polluted waterways: Invest in removing pollution from rivers, streams, and tributaries that feed our water supply. Support cleanup of legacy industrial sites that contaminate groundwater.

• Reduce stormwater pollution: Support green infrastructure that captures stormwater before it pollutes our waterways. Invest in rain gardens, permeable pavement, and natural filtration systems.

• Protect watersheds and wetlands: Wetlands are nature's water filters and wildlife habitat. Support protection and restoration of remaining wetlands and stream corridors.

• Ensure safe drinking water: All Illinoisans deserve safe, clean drinking water. Support infrastructure investment to replace aging pipes and remove contaminants. Hold polluters accountable for water contamination.

Green Infrastructure & Resilience

• Invest in green infrastructure: Trees, parks, green roofs, and natural spaces aren't luxuries. They're infrastructure. They reduce flooding, cool neighborhoods, improve air quality, and support mental health. Invest in expanding tree canopy and green space, especially in neighborhoods that have been historically underserved.

• Address climate resilience: Illinois faces increasing heat waves, flooding, and severe weather. Support investments that make communities more resilient: flood protection, cooling centers, early warning systems, and backup power.

• Support sustainable transportation: Reliable public transit reduces pollution and traffic. Support investment in buses, trains, and bike infrastructure so people can get where they need to go without driving.

• Reduce heat island effect: Urban heat islands make cities dangerously hot. Support cooling centers, tree planting, green roofs, and cool pavement that reduce extreme heat.

Conservation, Native Planting, & Ecological Restoration

• Expand native plant restoration & rewilding: Native plants support native wildlife, require less water and maintenance, and are more resilient to climate change than non-native ornamentals. Support programs that help landowners restore native plant communities on their property.

• Support prairie and savanna restoration: Illinois once had vast prairies and oak savannas. Restore these ecosystems where possible. They sequester carbon, support wildlife, and are beautiful.

• Restore biodiversity: Illinois has lost much of its natural habitat. Support protection of remaining woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands. Create corridors that allow wildlife to move across the landscape.

• Invest in land trusts and conservation easements: These tools permanently protect land from development while allowing landowners to maintain stewardship. Support funding for land acquisition and easement programs.

• Support invasive species removal: Invasive species crowd out native plants and animals. Invest in removal programs for garlic mustard, buckthorn, zebra mussels, and other invasives.