CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced a new Climate Works investment of $30 million for clean energy jobs on Chicago's South and West sides.The investment is meant to build the clean energy workforce while creating job opportunities in low-income communities. It seeks to create more than 1,000 jobs in the solar energy field over the next three years.
The man behind those soon-to-be-installed solar panels—and behind the upcoming training of more than 1,000 new workers—is A.J. Patton, founder and chief executive officer of the 548 Foundation. 'The climate crisis impacts low-income communities the hardest,' Patton said.Patton says the partnership with the state is about more than sustainable job opportunities.