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“‘Being able to pass clean energy legislation was conditioned by the speaker to reach agreement with ComEd and Exelon and labor,’ said Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, which led the push for renewable energy provisions. Walling, whose group represents more than 90 environmental and community groups in Illinois, said Madigan’s stance […]

“The Illinois Environmental Council started working on this legislation in 2017. Deputy Director Colleen Smith explained this is the closest lawmakers and advocates have gotten to having the measure reach the governor’s desk. ‘Illinois has an opportunity today with House Bill 3739 to take action and comprehensively address this issue,’ Smith said. ‘We urge the

“‘Even though we say there are around 680 thousand lead service lines in Illinois, there could be much more than that, and there are communities that aren’t aware their own lead service line could be disrupted and cause issues for them and their family,’ Colleen Smith with the Illinois Environmental Council said. Degrading lead pipes

“If states that comprise more than half of the nation’s population were all to adopt California’s emission standards, automakers would have a strong incentive to design and manufacture more zero-emission cars and fewer gas-guzzling autos with internal combustion engines. If Minnesota and New Mexico, which are going through a rule-making process to adopt the standards,

“The Illinois Environmental Council welcomes the announcement from Governor Pritzker and the IEPA that they intend to revise the state’s VW settlement spending plan after seeking public input. Despite the transportation sector being the leading source of carbon emissions in Illinois, the previous administration left Illinois with a plan that would have spent millions on

“This year in Springfield, lawmakers are advancing at least six different bills aimed at making the state’s energy industry more green. The Clean Energy Jobs Act aims to make Illinois 100 percent reliant on clean and renewable energy by 2050. The Path To 100 is a similar plan and supporters say it would create more than 53,000

“The Illinois Environmental Council estimates the state accounts for an eighth of all lead service lines in the country. ‘It is a significant problem in every part of the state, from rural to urban,’ Illinois Environmental Council Deputy Director Colleen Smith said.” Read the full article here.

Virtual Lobby Day made it onto TV! Watch WAND17’s clip on lobby day here.

“‘What we’ve seen over the last two months is a weakening of an ordinance that, to begin with, was never developed with very meaningful input from most impacted communities,’ said Colleen Smith, deputy director of the Illinois Environmental Council.  ‘We’re really relying on agencies that have failed in some of these decisions historically … to

“‘I think it could be harmful to pass something that seems like reform but it really isn’t,’ Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) said. Hadden, who voted against the measure, noted that environmental groups had soured on the mayor’s proposal. ‘Instead of developing a comprehensive air quality ordinance that seeks to truly address zoning’s impacts on communities

“Elated environmentalists had a lot to say after President Joe Biden unveiled the environmental executive orders he signed on Wednesday. ‘Huge.’ ‘Amazing.’ ‘Exciting.’ ‘A whole new day in every way.’ ‘So great.’ ‘A historic commitment.’ ‘Super exciting.’ ‘Thrilled.’ ‘This is definitely the biggest day for climate action in 10 years,’ Jennifer Walling, executive director for

It comes as clean energy advocates are also pressing for a massive energy package to prop up renewable energy. The Illinois Environmental Council’s Jennifer Walling says that would help to address the multifold crises of the ComEd corruption issues, climate change, high unemployment and a cliff for jobs in the solar industry giving funding gaps

The Illinois Environmental Council works across our state to promote land protection and restoration, supporting local governments to combat the effects of environmental degradation and protect our open spaces. Across the United States, the work of like minded organizations has helped our country chart a more sustainable path to growth, supporting the long-term survival of