Despite vocal local opposition, negative editorials, and warnings from the Department of Revenue, the House and Senate passed the STAR Bonds Financing Act (SB 1909) earlier this year. This regrettable bill would divert revenue from the State during a severe financial cr isis and give that money to clout-heavy private developers, expressly for the purpose of developing the 100 year floodplain.   Governor…

  More than 350 people jammed into the Grand Ballroom at the Hotel InterContinental Chicago for the Illinois Environmental Council’s seventh annual Leadership Dinner on September 24th. It was a night to enjoy a delicious green-tini, snap photos with Governor Pat Quinn, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and push for stronger…

The Illinois Environmental Council will present its annual Environmental Leadership Awards at the 7th Annual Environmental Leadership Dinner on September 24th.   The award will go to an outstanding legislator who is a champion for environmental best practices, a group of community activists who are fighting for environmental justice, and a green business that  is making environmentally sound…

June 24, 2009 American Landmark Properties and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) announced plans to transform the Sears Tower into a beacon of leadership for the green building movement. The project will employ a wide array of energy efficiency measures and create new best practices in green building construction and retrofits of existing buildings. The project's goal is to reduce the base energy…

IEC and member groups pushed to get good legislation passed and to the Governor’s desk. Click here for a list of IEC-supported bills that we expect Governor Quinn to sign. Also, we successfully opposed bad bills that were not consistent with IEC's 2009 Policy Agenda.   We will continue to oppose a couple of regrettable bills that did make it through the General Assembly. Also, we are calling upon…

On Earth Day, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) re-energized its push to pass several climate change measures including the Natural Gas Energy Efficiency Standard and Illinois Clean Cars Act with the kick-off of its 2009 town hall series, “Global Warming, Local Solutions.” The public forum on the campus of Southern Illinois…

A green jobs summit that represents the first-ever collaboration between the Illinois Environmental Council, the Chicago Urban League and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus drew about 250 people to a school on Chicago’s South Side April 20.    People poured into the auditorium of the Ariel Community Academy for “Catching…

On March 18, Illinois environmentalists expanded their reach in Springfield nearly 20-fold when approximately 150 volunteers lobbied 95 legislators about critical legislation in a single day. Typically, lobbyists get to talk to a handful of lawmakers on a good day, but Environmental Lobby Day 2009 brought together about 80 volunteers from around the state who converged on capitol to talk to their elected…

The Environmental Council unveiled today an ambitious policy agenda to address five critical environmental issues in Illinois that will also help the state rebuild its ailing economy.   Priorities for a Healthful Illinois: 2009 Illinois Environmental Briefing Book offers specific policies and legislative action for these top environmental priorities: global warming and energy, open space and natural…

The Illinois Environmental Council announced that Charles Jackson, the departing deputy director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, has joined the council as its new executive director.   Jackson says his vision is for the IEC to play a leadership role in developing policies that will create more green jobs and businesses in Illinois.   “We are pleased to have…