As Illinois officials remain strongly committed to closing coal-fired power plants, federal policies under the Trump administration are creating uncertainty, spurring legal action and a push by some to keep the plants open.
What does Trump’s EPA reversal of landmark climate change ruling mean for Illinois? Read More »
The POWER Act proposes a commonsense solution: require data centers to pay 100% of the costs they impose on the grid. If a private corporation’s operations require expensive new infrastructure, Illinois ratepayers shouldn’t be stuck with the bill. Data centers must pay their fair share.
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.
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.
“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.
POWER Act: Lawmakers seek to regulate new data centers’ power, water usage Read More »
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.
Environmental groups push to reign in data centers Read More »
NorthPoint Development is building a warehouse project on 4,000 acres not far from the existing 6,400-acre CenterPoint Intermodal Center in Will County. An analysis for the developer estimated that it would bring 1,300 new truck trips daily, and opponents think that will prove to be a huge undercount. Not everyone would risk immediate health effects like Papesh,
See Illinois’ 2025 Environmental Legislative Agenda, including all of the most important environmental bills this session!
Illinois’ 2025 Environmental Legislative Agenda Read More »
The fight against the effects of climate change in Illinois has more help. Under the Biden Administration’s pollution reduction plan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will distribute $430 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant will also accelerate clean energy and promote workforce training. Angela Xu, municipal engagement manager for the Illinois Environmental
IL environmentalists hope federal grant lowers emissions Read More »
President Biden should designate the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Massacre in Illinois’ capital with a National Monument.
Facing Our Past to Change Our Future Read More »
See Illinois’ 2024 Environmental Legislative Agenda, including all of the most important environmental bills this session!
Illinois’ 2024 Environmental Legislative Agenda Read More »
Important deadlines this week and big updates on priority bills
2023 Environmental Legislative Update Read More »
SPRINGFIELD, IL — After missing multiple opportunities this Spring to protect environmental justice communities across Illinois, the Illinois General Assembly yesterday passed HB2878 and HJR23. These bills give broad permission for public-private partnership (P3) funding of large transportation projects like widening I-55. This legislation will bring new vehicle traffic and even more diesel emissions into
Joining “Latino Voices” to discuss the proposed expansion are José Miguel Acosta Córdova, senior transportation policy analyst at the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization; Dany Robles, climate policy director at the Illinois Environmental Council; and Kate Lowe, associate professor of urban planning and policy at the University of Illinois Chicago. (Produced by Eunice Alpasan). Bills and
Important deadlines this week and big updates on priority bills
2023 Environmental Legislative Update Read More »
Take action to stop serial polluter, General Iron, from moving to the southeast side of Chicago!
General Iron’s Pollution Doesn’t Belong Here Read More »
The Illinois Environmental Council issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s rollback of Clean Car Standards: SPRINGFIELD, IL – In the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Trump administration just finalized their brazen rollback of clean car standards. This move will harm public health by increasing air pollution, introduce more uncertainty
IEC Responds to Trump Administration Rollback of Clean Car Standards Read More »
Find the full PDF online here or scroll down to read. IEC to host candidates forum Groups call for energy efficiency to reduce air pollution ISEN launches battery recycling program Update on mercury pollution List of upcoming events
IEC Bulletin (Summer 2002) Read More »
Find the full PDF online here or scroll down to read. Air pollution bill and coal subsidies pass Bush Administration may end lawsuits against power plants Food irradiation coming to Illinois Report on War Bluff Valley Sanctuary
IEC Bulletin (Fall 2001) Read More »
Find the full PDF online here or scroll down to read. Illinois Senate approves clean air legislation Illinois Endangered Sprecies Protection Board threatened Statehouse report Report on Adams Wildlife Sanctuary
IEC Bulletin (April 2001) Read More »
