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IEC in the Media

Graduates of Illinois clean energy workforce program gain a vision — and skills for the future
Core to the landmark climate law is creating “a just transition,” said Francisco Lopez Zavala, the Illinois Environmental Council’s policy program associate. For lawmakers, this means building a clean energy workforce in Illinois’ most environmentally burdened communities.

Human composting offers an environmentally friendly end. Some are pushing to legalize it in Illinois.
Jennifer Walling, executive director of the advocacy nonprofit Illinois Environmental Council, said the organization has been working with state lawmakers to pass a bill for the last three years. “It’s frustrating to see this choice taken away,” she said.

Illinois Wetlands Are At Risk As Federal Protections Vanish. Will State Move To Protect Them?
The Environmental Council’s conservation director Lindsay Keeney said despite opposition from the Farm Bureau, some Illinois farmers have expressed support for protections.
“Nature-based solutions – cheap, easily investible solutions, like wetlands – can store floodwater and maintain their soil health and keep their fields from flooding,”

POWER Act: Lawmakers seek to regulate new data centers’ power, water usage
“By expanding a loophole created during the first Trump administration, EPA would allow coal plants to delay closure for at least three more years and potentially much longer,” says Cate Caldwell of the Illinois Environmental Council.

Environmental groups push to reign in data centers
Jen Walling: We don’t really know how many data centers there are. We coula expect anywhere from 100 to 195, they can be small or really large, but it’s impacting everyone already. Consumers were seeing their rates increase already last summer and those rates are due to Big Tech.

Illinois Rewilding Law, first in US, a step toward state wetland protection
Lindsay Keeney, conservation director at the Illinois Environmental Council, explained that restoring native ecosystems helps Illinois weather more extreme and frequent flood events.
IEC Press Releases

Advocates Celebrate Step Forward for Wetlands Protection
Strong Support Turns Out for Today’s House Committee Vote

Illinois Moves Forward on Climate Action While the Federal Government Falls Behind
Illinois — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act into law, continuing Illinois’ legacy as a leader on clean

Illinois Environmental Council Applauds Governor Pritzker for Investing in Public Transit
Illinois — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act into law, investing $1.5 billion annually in public transit and ensuring

In Wake of New Federal Rollbacks of Clean Water Protections, IEC Calls on Governor Pritzker to Respond
Illinois — On Monday, the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers announced the Polluted Water Rule, which further restricts which

Illinois Environmental Council Lauds Biggest 24 Hours in State Climate Action in State History
Springfield, IL — Today, following months of negotiations and mere hours after the passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which accelerates Illinois’

Illinois Environmental Council Applauds Passage of Next-Generation Climate Policy
Springfield, IL — Today, after passage in the State House yesterday, the Illinois State Senate passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (SB25), which