Bringing Waste-to-Energy to the Conversation in Rock Island County

This week, I took an important step toward real solutions for Rock Island County taxpayers by speaking at the Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) about waste-to-energy opportunities.

If you haven’t heard of it before, waste-to-energy (WTE) is exactly what it sounds like — turning the trash we already send to landfills into usable energy, such as natural gas or electricity. It’s being done across the country to reduce waste, create revenue, and power local communities.

Here’s the reality: our county already has landfills generating value. The question is whether we’re doing everything we can to ensure the value benefits taxpayers.

That’s why I brought this conversation forward.

The discussion led to engagement from board members, and it resulted in an invitation for me to return — this time to continue the conversation with landfill operators at the table.

That’s a big step forward.

Because real progress happens when everyone is in the room — asking hard questions, looking at the numbers, and figuring out how we can do better as a county.

I didn’t wait to be elected before starting work on this. I’m doing the work now as a Coal Valley Trustee — digging into the facts, pushing the conversation forward, and making sure we’re exploring every opportunity to:

• Generate new local revenue

• Support good-paying jobs

• Reduce long-term pressure on property taxes

This is about leadership, accountability, and making sure Rock Island County isn’t leaving opportunities on the table.

I’ll keep pushing this forward — and I’ll keep you updated every step of the way.