Whether you’re a hot cup of tea and meditate kind of person or a toss the leftover pizza in the microwave kind of person, you probably ate plastic this morning. Tiny plastic particles called microplastics easily find their way into the things we eat and drink — and there’s little you can do to avoid
Fifty-five years after the first Earth Day, Environmental Protection Agency employees and advocates call for help as the Trump administration rolls back environmental regulations and lays off hundreds of workers. Earth Day was marked not with celebration but with a sense of urgency and despair for Environmental Protection Agency union members in Chicago as the
On Earth Day, EPA union workers decry cuts to clean air and water regulations Read More »
We can’t count on Washington to do right for the environment. Good thing Illinois’ environmental movement is on top of it.
Illinois Has Your Back, Mother Earth Read More »
Cate Caldwell joined the Illinois Environmental Council as a Senior Policy Manager in March of 2025. In this role, Cate coordinates and communicates with IEC staff and member affiliates primarily on federal efforts, maintaining relationships with elected officials and agencies, while also supporting the Agriculture and Conservation program team in developing legislative strategies. Cate’s leadership
Stella Younkin joined the Illinois Environmental Council in Spring 2025 as a Government Affairs Fellow. Stella supports IEC’s legislative and advocacy work, advancing environmental progress by implementing IEC’s policy and advocacy priorities with the state legislature. In this role, she contributes to lobbying efforts, helps track legislation, and advocates for IEC’s environmental positions. She works
Facing federal funding cuts impacting our state’s environment, we immediately determined we could help IEC members sift through the federal chaos and grow our federal advocacy presence.
Defining Illinois’ Federal Strategy for Environmental Advocacy Read More »
Illinois’ farmers can’t wait around for the federal government to decide if critical agriculture programs are worthwhile. Their livelihoods are on the line.
Federal Funding Cuts are Hurting Small Farmers Read More »
Chad Wallace is the director of rural affairs for the Illinois Environmental Council and a lifelong farmer. He spoke to Community Voices about the impact of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) or factory farms. He explained what CAFOs are, their prevalence in Illinois and the concerns communities have about their environmental impact. Additionally, Chad shared
We’re midway through the legislative session. Our team has been hard at work this week rounding up roll call votes for many of the bills we’ve been tracking.
Conservation Advocacy in Illinois Read More »
The Homeowner’s Native Landscaping Act, passed into law in 2024, is a win for Illinois’ biodiversity and climate.
Illinois’ Gardens Fight Climate Change Read More »
CEJA Workforce Hub Celebrates 100% Enrollment Across Training Programs DECATUR, IL—Today, Richland Community College (RCC) and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) hosted “Powering Progress: Richland Community College’s Clean Energy Careers in Action” at its Decatur campus. The event highlighted RCC’s Clean Energy Careers program, which provides training and certification for entry-level positions in solar, HVAC,
Expanding democracy in Illinois is not only good for people, but our environment as well. We have seen that when marginalized communities are empowered, environmental protections become more possible.
Restoring Voting Power to People in Prison Read More »
Our legislative team at IEC has been working hard to ensure our bill sponsors have the tools and public support to advance our agenda this session.
Tackling Plastic Pollution in Illinois Read More »
I moved to Chicago with a dream to make it in the big city. Today, that dream includes protecting essential transit services for all Illinoisans.
Public Transit is Essential. Now It Must Be Protected. Read More »
The deputy director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) says the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze has halted the Illinois EATS program. Kristi Jones tells Brownfield it was part of the USDA funded Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. “Those reimbursement dollars are how we fund the lead agencies, the farmers, and the food.” She
Federal Funding Freeze Halts IL EATS Program Read More »
With the fight over a federal clean energy funding freeze entering its second month, two of the biggest prizes in Illinois are emissions-reduction grants totaling more than $570 million. Now, the state appears closer to claiming both of them. In Illinois, which aims for 100% clean energy by 2050, the effects of the clean energy
Federal funding freeze lifted for some Illinois clean energy projects Read More »
State lawmakers are pushing for more grid-enhancing tech, gigawatts of new energy storage, and the creation of a virtual power plant program.Since 2017, sweeping legislation in Illinois has sparked a solar power boom and launched ambitious energy equity and green jobs programs. Now, for the third time in under a decade, state lawmakers, advocates, and industry groups have their sights set
After groundbreaking bills on jobs and solar, Illinois tackles the grid Read More »
In a battle of expectedly “red” versus “blue” politics, conservation funding in northeastern Illinois emerged a winner in the 2024 election.
Northeastern Illinois Conservation Sees Critical Win Read More »
Illinois is known for having some of the weakest environmental laws for concentrated animal feeding operations, with a lack of oversight and public transparency for the entire process. A coalition of rural landowners is working to change it. In Illinois, it is estimated there are more than 21,000 concentrated animal feeding operations. Chad Wallace, director of rural affairs
IL CAFOs on rise as industry remains underregulated Read More »
Gov. JB Pritzker unveiled his 2026 budget proposal. Check it out to see how and which environmental priorities will be funded next year.
Analysis: Governor’s FY2026 Budget Address Read More »
Chad Wallace tells the tale of how he met the farmer who inspired our investigation into Illinois’ factory farms.
Building Power to Confront Illinois’ Factory Farms Read More »
