SPRINGFIELD, Illinois--People came by the thousands, but for good reason. More than 2,000 people gathered at the Illinois State capitol to rally for a bill they say if it doesn't pass, would leave them with some tough decisions.
"Do I stay here or uproot my entire family and leave and take my skills and tax dollars with me?" says Seneca Black, a worker at the Exelon plant in Cordova, Illinois.
The bill, known as the Next Generation Energy Plan, is designed to provide clean energy but also keep two at risk nuclear plants from closing Exelon plants in Cordova and Clinton, Illinois.
"A lot of jobs, my friends and coworkers depend on this bill going through," says Black.
If the Cordova plant closes, 800 jobs will be lost.
To pass the bill, it would cost tax payers in northern Illinois 25 cents more per month on their energy bills.
Julie Vahling from Illinois AARP isn't part of the cheering section.
"Especially with the situation with the budget, we may be talking tax increase, cutting social service programs that those households can't afford to see even the slightest increase in utility bills for a highly profitable company," says Vahling.
But this group who rallied loudly disagrees, and they won't stop until they are heard.
"Time's running out, and we need to look at this and take it seriously right now," says Black.
The bill must pass in the Senate by May 31, 2016 to move forward to the House.