This week, I wrote about the push for solar energy in Illinois.

Investing in solar energy could bring the state as many as 17,000 new jobs, one environmental expert says.

As the fifth largest producer and consumer of electricity, Illinois is not living up to its sun-harnessing potential. The state is seriously behind on solar energy, the Illinois Environmental Council says, especially when compared to other large states.

“We have solar development on both coasts, but the Midwest, in many ways, is lagging behind,” says Barry Matchett, a legislative director at the Illinois Environmental Law and Policy Center.

Click here for the full story.