Energy and the Environment

As a local meteorologist for over two decades, I know what so many other scientists know: the climate is changing. To me, there’s nothing political about that. We’ve seen the negative impacts of extreme weather firsthand across Central and Northwestern Illinois.
We need to find ways to protect our homes and farms from draughts, floods, and other adverse weather events while investing in clean power sources that will create sustainable, good-paying jobs right here in our district.
We owe it to our kids and grandkids to build a cleaner environment and we owe it to our farmers to make sure they can pass down their family farms to the next generation.
More on Energy and the Environment
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing nearly $177 million for Illinois under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide financial assistance to families to lower their home energy costs.
Supplemental funding for Illinois under LIHEAP comes partially from the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024, which Congressman Sorensen voted for in September of 2023. Additional funding for LIHEAP was appropriated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was signed into law in November of 2021.
MOLINE, IL - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are announcing investments to lower costs for Northwestern Illinois farmers and small businesses and strengthen the energy grid in rural communities.
PEORIA, IL - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing over $275,000 in funding awarded to four rural and small businesses and agriculture producers in Central Illinois to lower energy costs and strengthen their energy resilience.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing nearly $177 million for Illinois under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide financial assistance to families to lower their home energy costs.
ROCK ISLAND, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) are announcing $146,749 for Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb to help rural and small businesses and agriculture producers secure grants that will lower energy costs and strengthen energy resilience.
BLOOMINGTON, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are announcing $499,784 for a project to grow more trees in Bloomington and Normal, which will improve air and water quality, protect residents against summer heat, and lower household energy costs.
Central Illinois Proud
WASHINGTON (WMBD) — Several Illinois members of Congress are supporting legislation to improve flood protections along the Mississippi River.
According to a news release from Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-IL), the bipartisan Upper Mississippi River Levee Safety Act would give local levee districts along the upper Mississippi more flexibility to maintain their systems and allow them to better prepare for floods.
ROCKFORD, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are announcing $50 million in funding awarded to ComEd and its local Rockford partners to deliver affordable, clean energy to Illinois families.
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) applauded the Department of Energy’s (DOE) decision to select Illinois as part of a Midwest hydrogen energy hub that will support energy needs and create good-paying jobs.








