Residents lobbied at the capitol for three major bills at Illinois Environmental Lobby Day
Hundreds of advocates and organizers headed to Springfield this week for Environmental Lobby Day in Illinois.
Clean air
What does Trump’s EPA reversal of landmark climate change ruling mean for Illinois?
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 »
Commentary: With Big Tech’s big footprint, Illinois needs guardrails for data centers now
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.
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.
What Illinois Animal are You?
Illinois is home to hundreds of iconic animals. Who are you? Find your birth month to discover more about your critter.
What Illinois Animal are You? Read More »
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.
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.
POWER Act: Lawmakers seek to regulate new data centers’ power, water usage Read More »
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.
Environmental groups push to reign in data centers Read More »
EPA plans to give 11 coal plants a free pass on toxic ash disposal
“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.
EPA plans to give 11 coal plants a free pass on toxic ash disposal Read More »
Environmentalists push back against US EPA plan to extend coal plant closings
For a state with some of the highest numbers of coal ash ponds, this decision threatens to reverse years of progress as Illinois has made strides away from reliance on coal-fired power, according to Cate Caldwell, senior policy director of the Illinois Environmental Council.
Environmentalists push back against US EPA plan to extend coal plant closings Read More »
Trucks Move the Country’s Goods Through This County. As Even More Loom, People Are Pushing Back.
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,
2025 Food Systems Townhall
Is Illinois on the right track? Help shape IEC’s Food Systems policy priorities as we head into 2026.
2025 Food Systems Townhall Read More »
2025 Clean Energy Townhall
Is Illinois on the right track? Help shape IEC’s Clean Energy policy priorities as we head into 2026.
2025 Clean Energy Townhall Read More »
2025 Environmental Scorecard
IEC’s state legislative team has published our 2025 Environmental Scorecard evaluating the performance of every Illinois state legislator based on their environmental voting record.
2025 Environmental Scorecard Read More »
2025 Chicago City Council Scorecard
IEC’s city programs team has published our 2025 Chicago City Council Environmental Scorecard evaluating the performance of alderpersons based on their environmental voting record.
2025 Chicago City Council Scorecard Read More »
2025 Legislative Report
IEC’s state legislative team has published our 2025 Legislative Report detailing environmental wins and setbacks during this year’s legislative session.
2025 Legislative Report Read More »
As Chicagoans Brace for Higher Water Bills, Groups Push for Affordability Reforms
Water rates have more than doubled since 2010. Low-income residents feel the pinch most of all. On Sunday Chicagoans will face another spike in their water bills after seeing rates more than double over the past 15 years. The latest increase—4 percent—comes as environmental justice groups are fighting for more water-affordability protections. “Water is just
As Chicagoans Brace for Higher Water Bills, Groups Push for Affordability Reforms Read More »
Smoke from Canadian wildfires moving into Chicago area, raising concerns about air quality
Smoke from out-of-control wildfires in Canada is drifting into the Chicago area on Friday, and while conditions won’t be as severe as when smoke from Canadian wildfires repeatedly blanketed Chicago two years ago, the haze is nonetheless raising public health concerns. Environmental experts said Chicagoans should pay attention to any alerts and be conscious of air quality. Canadian officials
On Earth Day, EPA union workers decry cuts to clean air and water regulations
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 »
Public Transit is Essential. Now It Must Be Protected.
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 »