David Gill is a man of science, someone who uses technical results in the ER to diagnose and treat illness and injuries. Our approach to addressing the growing problem of climate change and environmental damage needs to be scientific and fact-based, too. But for far too long, we've let the deep-pocketed special interests, like oil and gas companies, dictate the debate and discredit the solid science behind climate change research.
Dr. Gill understands that now is the time to act to lower greenhouse gas emissions, end our dependence on dirty foreign oil and exploit renewable, home-grown resources. Already, we've seen wind farms transform the landscape across Central and Southwest Illinois. The 13th District has the potential to be a leading provider of crops for bio-fuels. Leading research institutions, like U of I, ISU and others can develop innovative technologies that will allow us to power industry, heat our homes and run our cars and engineer the next generation of wind turbines and solar cells. But Congress has failed to even acknowledge the problem, much less address it. Inaction and political paralysis has meant the US is already falling behind China, Germany and other countries that have embraced the realities--and the opportunities--of a green energy economy.
David supports efforts to retrofit old public buildings like schools, hospitals and libraries, to make them more energy-efficient. This would immediately create jobs renovating these facilities, build a market for environmentally-engineered products, reduce energy use (and resulting costs to taxpayers) and help reduce our nation's dependence on fossil fuels.
David Gill will also oppose Republican efforts to roll back common-sense provisions that protect air quality, the purity of our drinking water and the safety of our food supply.