By Peter Hancock | Herald & Review “Gov. J.B Pritzker signed an order Tuesday to join the U.S. Climate Alliance at a news conference in Springfield’s eco-friendly Southwind Park. Pritzker was joined by officials from the Illinois Environmental Council and the Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club emphasizing the need to take local action to
With signature, Pritzker commits Illinois to U.S. Climate Alliance Read More »
Block Club Chicago | by A.D. Quig “If the tax break is approved, the property would be assessed at 10 percent of its market value for the first 10 years, 15 percent in the 11th year and 20 percent in the 12th year. Colleen Smith, the legislative director for the Illinois Environmental Council, said taxpayers
Rich Miller | Capitol Fax Illinois continues to reel from the fatal outbreak of legionella at the Quincy Veterans’ Home. School and park districts are scrambling to address troubling levels of lead in water lines and drinking fountains. Now the House is considering a radical measure that would eliminate longstanding protections that ensure the proper
SB 1226 Endangers Safe Drinking Water & Public Health Read More »
Sun-Times Editorial BoardIn the Illinois River last summer, algae blooms gave off a toxin that can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled as a mist or swallowed, causing rashes, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing and wheezing. In some cases, the toxins can be fatal. Similarly, residents of Toledo, Ohio, were warned four years ago not to
EDITORIAL: How Illinois can block Trump administration plan to foul our waters Read More »
Madeleine DoubekLast month, the Better Government Association’s investigative unit reported that a “managed competition” program being used for residential recycling wasn’t being managed well at all…The report found neighborhoods on the Northwest, West and Far South sides were 20 times more likely to have their recycling diverted to a landfill. Waste Management handles the recycling
How to make Chicago’s recycling better than just garbage in, garbage out Read More »
The winners of yesterday’s election will be making decisions that have wide-ranging impacts on Illinois’s environment.
Did Illinois just elect the most pro-environment General Assembly ever? Read More »
Report includes backgrounds on key environmental issue areas and specific recommendations for how the Governor can protect the environment in their role. Click here if the form fails to load.
IEC Releases the 2018 Environmental Executive Report Read More »
Jen Walling Executive Director, Illinois Environmental Council Without a family history of breast cancer, no one can pinpoint how my mother developed cancer. I was ten years old at the time, and as everyone who has gone through a similar experience knows, the diagnosis was incredibly hard on my family. The experience made enough of
Sterigenics, Ethylene Oxide and Human Health Read More »
More than 2,000 IEC, Sierra Club and NRDC supporters came together to apply for the new Specialty Monarch License Plate Decal, raising over $20,000 for roadside monarch habitat and ensuring the decal will be commissioned!
2,000 Monarch License Plate Decal Applications Received Read More »
By Cary Shepherd Policy Director, Illinois Environmental Council The federal administration unveiled its latest attempt to prevent our nation’s transition to a clean energy economy earlier this week. After announcing the repeal of the Clean Power Plan – the Obama Administration’s signature climate change policy – the EPA has proposed to replace it with the
Federal Setbacks and the State of Illinois Energy Policy Read More »
Representative Robyn Gabel has represented the 18th District since 2010, and during that time she has earned a reputation as a champion for environmental issues.
Legislator Feature: Robyn Gabel Read More »
By Jen Walling Executive Director, Illinois Environmental Council While I’m sure 12-year-old me would be very proud of my current career (my friend Dorothy and I would stay behind after lunch to recycle milk cartons), I’m also certain I had no idea that advocating for the environment was a potential career option. As it turns
How to Pursue a Career Protecting the Environment Read More »
More and more emergency situations are arising from substandard water infrastructure, with the tragedy in Flint drawing national attention to this critical issue.
The State of Water Infrastructure in Illinois Read More »
Last week, the IEC staff went to Washington, D.C. for a Congressional lobby day with the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). This trip marked a positive beginning to our exciting new partnership with LCV, and an opportunity for IEC to meet with members of Illinois’s federal delegation regarding both the federal and state priorities of
IEC Goes to Washington Read More »
Breaking a long trend of cuts and unspent appropriations, natural resources finally received improved funding in the FY19 Illinois budget and capital budget. One especially heartening development will see the operating budget for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources increase 6.7% compared to FY18. A major highlight of the capital plan is the dedication of
Natural Resources and Conservation in the Illinois Budget Read More »
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned on May 31st after passing a budget, which was signed by Governor Rauner the morning of June 4th. Read our budget update to learn more about the benefits to environmental programs of the fiscal year 2019 budget. The General Assembly likely will not meet again until after the election for
2018 Session in Review Read More »
This week, the General Assembly took steps to move forward a comprehensive budget for Fiscal Year 2019. As we are still dealing with the damage caused to environmental programs and our natural areas by the record-setting budget impasse, it’s vital that a sound budget is in place for our work growing clean jobs, conserving open spaces, and protecting
FY19 Budget and the Environment Read More »
With 3 weeks remaining in the spring legislative session, IEC remains focused on a few important measures, and the ongoing budget negotiations. VW Settlement and a Clean Transportation Sector Thank you to all who took action on the VW settlement public comment period! Nearly 700 supporters took action through IEC’s online form to criticize the
5/11 Update from Springfield Read More »
On Thursday, April 26th, nearly 300 advocates joined us in Springfield for Environmental Lobby Day. The strength of our community was clearly on display as attendees from all over Illinois met with their state legislators regarding our priority legislation for the session, and rallied in front of the Capitol. The presence of hundreds of advocates,
2018 Environmental Lobby Day in Review Read More »
Friday, April 13th is the final deadline for bills to get out of committee in both chambers. It was a mixed week in Springfield for IEC: while many of the proposals we support advanced towards passage, others very bad proposals moved forward despite our strong opposition. Bills that do not get out of committee by
Committee Deadline Week Read More »
Innovative Partnership to Hold Elected Officials Accountable and Elevate Environmental Issues Protecting Illinois’ environment is the focus of a new partnership launched today between the Illinois Environmental Council and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). This partnership will be used to hold decision makers accountable, put environmental issues front and center in the electoral process,
IEC Announces League of Conservation Voters Partnership Read More »
