Facing an April 5 runoff, 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis announced last week that he not only supports but will co-sponsor the Clean Power Ordinance, legislation intended to sharply curtail air pollution from the Fisk coal-fired power plant in Pilsen and the Crawford coal plant in Little Village.

Solis said that the federal government’s inaction on climate change made local legislation necessary.

Solis’ announcement won him the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union. And the alderman’s support greatly improves the prospects of a major environmental ordinance that has seen no legislative advancement.

But not everyone is convinced that Solis — who received campaign donations from Fisk and Coal power plants’ owner, Midwest Generation — will remain a consistent and effective Clean Power Ordinance advocate.

“I’m really glad he is taking my lead on this, but his position to sign on now is not genuine,” said Solis runoff challenger Temoc Morfin, who has supported the ordinance since its inception. “His political career is on the line.”

The coalition Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization, or PERRO, is also skeptical.

“Come April 6 or soon thereafter, he could announce that he is withdrawing his support,” said PERRO founder Dorian Breuer.

Through a spokeswoman, Solis pledged no such thing would happen.

“There are no circumstances under which the alderman will change his support,” said Stacey Raker. “He has firmly committed his support for the Clean Power Ordinance for his constituents.”

The 25th Ward alderman since 1996, Solis picked up 49 percent of the vote in the Feb. 22 municipal election. He needed a majority to avoid a runoff against Morfin, who received 28 percent.

Introduced by Ald. Joe Moore (49th) in April, the Clean Power Ordinance curbs particulate matter like the soot that escapes from the Fisk plant, at 111 W. Cermak, and Crawford plant, at 3501 S. Pulaski, by 90 percent.

Even more ambitious, the ordinance would cut carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is the main source of climate change, by 90 percent three years after passage.

The legislation responds to a longstanding public health problem. The 108-year-old Fisk plant and 87-year-old Crawford plant likely cause asthma, bronchitis and even death. A Clean Air Task Force report from September linked the plants to 66 premature deaths and 104 heart attacks annually.

Ald. Richardo Munoz, whose 22nd Ward includes the Crawford plant, supports the ordinance. But Solis’ non-support made other alderman reluctant to push forward and encroach on his turf.

Tom Balinoff, president of the SEIU Illinois State Council, said that Solis’ backing is the “key move” in passing the ordinance.

“It will impress upon other alderman to support the ordinance and it get it passed through city council,” he said. And if it passed city council, “I don’t have any reason to believe Mayor-Elect Emanuel wouldn’t sign it.”

Balinoff added that while Morfin “would make a good alderman,” endorsing Solis makes a “broader impact” on city politics.

Solis claimed that his newfound support of the ordinance lies with national, not local, politics.

“Ald. Solis strongly believed that Chicago’s clean air policy could be more comprehensively addressed at a federal level,” said Raker. “Today he no longer believes this is the case as Republicans now control the U.S. House of Representatives and have shown no interest in taking up this issue.”

Solis is referring not just to the failure of Congress to pass a bill capping carbon emissions, but also Republican attempts to end the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s power to curb greenhouse gases.

Douglas McFarlan, spokesman for Midwest Generation — which opposes the ordinance, takes issue with Solis’s reasoning. He points out that the Obama administration has set initial rules for curbing greenhouse gases in coal plants.

McFarlan added that people from Midwest Generation speak with Solis “almost daily” and that Solis’ support for the ordinance indicates, “that we need to keep the lines of communication open.”

Midwest Generation has donated more than $50,000 to Solis during his political career.

McFarlan demurred on whether the company would continue this financial support.

“It’s no secret that we think Alderman Solis has been a good leader for the 25th Ward,” McFarlan said. “We’re going to talk to the alderman and show him that a lot is coming from Washington that is addressing coal plant pollution.”

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Posted: 06/15/2011 11:38 PM

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By here4ever from Dearborn Park
Posted: 03/18/2011 8:05 PM

Not that its my ward, but you have completely misstated what TIF districts do. Try again.

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By pmd from near west
Posted: 03/18/2011 7:47 PM

clauio gaete: No offense but I have noticed your negative statements in all the articles about the 25th ward election. One might ask if you are in fact a staff member for Solis's competition. Why don't you focus on your candidates track record (or lackthereof) instead of constantly griping. Being an Alderman requires the right vision and the ability to execute. I suspect your candidate does NOT have a proven track record to get things done.

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By claudio gaete from Pilsen-Little Village Area
Posted: 03/18/2011 4:22 PM

If you believe local politics had no impact in Solis' flip-flop, let me tell you about the Easter Bunny. Solis has daily communication with the polluters but regular people have to have sit-ins for 43 days to be heard and/or vigils outside his office for Solis to listen. Yea, right, local politics had nothing to do with his flip-flop. Shame on SEIU for giving Solis, their support. Remember this Balinoff, when Solis is busting your union.