The 2018 state legislative session began February, 30th 2018. With the Primary Election scheduled for March 20, session days are light between now and March. With continued threats to the environment coming from the federal level, we will be working harder than ever to defend existing protections and push environmental justice priorities in our 2018 […]
What will IEC be up to in 2018 Read More »
By Lindsay KeeneyDownstate Outreach Director, Illinois Environmental Council You can’t protect something you don’t love. Nurtured in central Illinois creek beds that had a tendency to banish a nice pair pair of school clothes straight to the dirty clothes pile, I love water. Geography gifted me the chance play, fish and study water from an
Staff Feature: Lindsay Keeney Read More »
IEC is excited to release our first “Legislator Feature” on our blog! Through this series, we hope to share with our supporters how legislators think about environmental issues, and what areas they are specifically interested in. For this entry, we are pleased to interview State Representative Carol Ammons. Representative Carol Ammons is serving her second
Legislator Feature: State Representative Carol Ammons Read More »
By Jen WallingExecutive Director, Illinois Environmental Council I’ve never imagined an Illinois where Lisa Madigan was no longer attorney general. She has been an immutable figure on the Illinois political landscape for two decades, and a reliable decision-maker and partner on many of the environmental community’s campaigns. When embarking on a campaign, we begin by
Why the Race for Attorney General Matters for Environmentalists Read More »
Since mid-2016, the Chicago Tribune has been publishing an investigative series highlighting the many human and environmental harms caused by confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). One shocking revelation came from IDNR records that show that half of all fish kills in Illinois rivers are related to spills from livestock operations. In response to these reports,
Texas-based Dynegy Inc. has launched a two-pronged assault on our environment, public health, and ratepayers. In the past few weeks, Dynegy requested that the Illinois Pollution Control Board to rewrite the state’s Multi-Pollutant Standard (MPS), was sold to a fellow Texas-based energy giant, Vistra Energy, for $1.7 billion, and filed legislation that would grant them
Dynegy’s Double-Bailout Called Into Question at Hearing Read More »
11 Senators and 33 Representatives Oppose SB 2250 and HB 4141, Dynegy’s Double-Bailout Dynegy, a Texas-based energy giant, has been busy pushing bailouts in multiple venues with Illinois policymakers, while at the same time entering into a mega-merger with another Texas-based energy giant, Vistra Energy. This sale is estimated to add $1.7 billion to Dynegy’s
Dynegy’s Double-Bailout Read More »
By Mary VandervordPresident/CEO, HeartLands Conservancy What’s the mission of your organization?To sustain and enrich the diverse environmental resources of southwestern Illinois. To accomplish our mission HLC works with individuals, local governments, state and federal agencies, and other organizations on three priorities: conservation of open space, building greener communities, and engaging people with nature. Where in
Affiliate Feature: HeartLands Conservancy Read More »
AG Madigan, President Preckwinkle among award winners at the 2017 Environmental Leadership Dinner This past Wednesday, September 27th, IEC hosted our 2017 Environmental Leadership Dinner. We were thrilled to be joined by nearly 400 advocates, affiliates, and elected officials who support policies and programs that protect the environment and grow our clean energy economy. You
2017 Environmental Leadership Dinner in Review Read More »
By Colleen SmithLegislative Director, Illinois Environmental Council Many of the environmental community’s top legislative champions will not be returning to the Illinois General Assembly for another term. Just yesterday, we heard the devastating news that Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, a winner of IEC’s lifetime achievement award for her environmental leadership, will not run for
Unprecedented number of retirements include many environmental champions Read More »
By Jennifer WallingExecutive Director, IEC Governor Rauner’s Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently increased the number of bobcat hunting permits from 500 to 1,000 for the upcoming season. The announcement of an increase in the number of permits was issued despite the fact that there is currently a bill sitting on the Governor’s desk that
Illinois Bobcat Hunting Program is Flawed Read More »
The Illinois General Assembly approved SB550, or the Preventing Lead in Drinking Water bill. Because there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, IEC has worked hard over the past year to pass legislation that would require basic steps to protect children from lead poisoning. This bill is now on the way to
Preventing Lead in Drinking Water Passes! Read More »
The proposed constitutional amendment could have unintended consequences for conservation in Illinois. You can read the Safe Roads Constitutional Amendment in its entirety here. This amendment to Illinois’ constitution purports to keep the gas tax in a “lockbox” that can only be used for transportation, and comes in response to significant sweeps from the road
How will the Safe Roads Constitutional Amendment affect conservation? Read More »
As an organization that has been working to solve the pollution crisis caused by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Illinois for years, we applaud the Chicago Tribune’s recent in-depth investigative report on large hog confinements. Few could read this piece without gasping at the stories of environmental pollution, animal abuse, and destruction of rural
The High Cost of Cheap Meat Read More »
The Illinois House and Senate passed and the Governor signed a six month stop gap budget which ends December 31, 2016. While this is progress, passing a budget in the second half of FY17 will be difficult as the legislature will likely have to consider additional revenue. This budget covers many line items related to
Stop Gap Budget and the Environment Read More »
Well into the FY16 fiscal year, the state of Illinois still does not have a budget and the impasse is having a severe negative impact on conservation and environment programs. It’s hard to measure the full impacts these cuts, sweeps, and delays are having on the environment, economy, and quality of life of all Illinoisans,
Budget Impasse Devastating Environment and Conservation Programs Read More »
Legislation advanced to immediately sweep funding important to the environmental community SB274 Amendment #1 takes funding from numerous dedicated funds, including but not limited to: $37 million for OSLAD (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development) Nearly $5 million from NAAF (Natural Areas Acquisition Fund) Over $1 million from the Partners for Conservation Fund $25.7 million
Oppose Sweeps to Energy and Conservation Read More »
Governor Rauner introduced his proposed FY16 budget on Wednesday during his budget address. This budget is $4.2 billion or 12% lower than FY15 and many agencies and programs will receive steep cuts. You can view the proposed budget here. We are still analyzing the budget, but a few items of note on a first review: DNR’s
Environmental Impacts of Budget Address Read More »
The environment is under assault by the General Assembly this week. There are a seemingly unprecedented number of anti-environment measures up for consideration this week. Here are the biggest threats we face this week and what you can do about them: Gutting of Illinois fracking law. On Friday, we sent you an action alert on
5 ways the GA is threatening the environment. Read More »
With the March Primary Election behind us, legislative proposals are starting to move through committee. Unfortunately, proposals only have until March 28 to get out of committee and there is so much that needs to get done this week. Bills that don’t get out of committee generally need a deadline extension or they will be
Everything you need to know about committee deadline week Read More »
520 E Capitol, Springfield, IL 62701 | Phone: 217-544-5954 | Email: iec@ilenviro.org
© 2024 Illinois Environmental Council
