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Clean Water

Plea for Black farmers

Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) -Agriculture is yet another area in which Black leaders say they are denied access. “For too long, Black farmers and growers have faced systemic barriers from land loss, discrimination in lending, equitable access to state and federal programs, and the erosion of community welfare that comes with it. These are not just agriculture issues,” said Cate Caldwell (pictured, left), a senior policy manager at the Illinois Environmental Council. “Hear me clearly: they are environmental justice issues, they are economic justice issues, they are civil rights issues.”

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Illinois launches paint recycling program

“The Paint Stewardship Act was negotiated over a number of years and we’re excited to see it working,” Jen Walling, CEO of the Illinois Environmental Council, told Illinois Times. “It’s a common-sense solution that keeps hazardous waste out of our landfills and waterways while making it easier for Illinois residents and businesses to responsibly recycle leftover paint. We’re proud of the work happening across the state including expanded collection sites, public education and partnership with local governments.”

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Our Chicago: How data centers could positively, negatively impact you

Jen Walling is the Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Environmental Council.

She wrote in Crain’s that “Big Tech” is coming to Illinois and that the state isn’t ready.

“We don’t have the guardrails in place that are going to be necessary to protect our environment, to keep our rates low, to protect our communities and most importantly, protect our water,” Walling said.

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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,”

Illinois Wetlands Are At Risk As Federal Protections Vanish. Will State Move To Protect Them? Read More »

Advocates hold signs that read, "Protect Illinois Waters" and "Protect Illinois Wetlands."

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 bodies of water are protected from pollution and destruction under the Clean Water Act. In response, Illinois Environmental Council Chief Program Officer Lindsay Keeney released the following statement: “Pollution flows

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Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s Letter to the EPA on Replacing Lead Service Lines with Iyana Simba

Iyana Simba: “One-eighth of all the lead service lines in the nation are here in Illinois. So we have about 667,000 that are accounted for. And that’s in addition to hundreds of thousands that are unknown material. Um, that puts about 350,000 children at risk of lead exposure today in Illinois.” (0:42-1:01) “We cannot delay

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