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Climate Action

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 accelerates Illinois’ clean energy progress and gives consumers tools to save money on their energy bills. In response, Illinois Environmental Council Chief Executive Officer Jen Walling released the following statement: […]

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Gov. JB Pritzker set to approve energy bill boosting battery storage for renewables despite debate over costs

SPRINGFIELD — Sweeping energy-related legislation that backs the use of big batteries to help make wind and solar power more effective but has raised questions about whether it will increase or decrease energy bills cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday night and will be headed to Gov. JB Pritzker, who signaled he would sign the measure into law.

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House passes energy bill amid debate over costs to consumers

Proponents say energy storage, efficiency programs will save money, critics wary of claims SPRINGFIELD — Illinoisans could see a new line item on their electric bills under a bill passed Wednesday night by the Illinois House. Under the proposal, contained in an amendment to Senate Bill 25, ratepayers will subsidize energy storage projects like large battery

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Renewable Energy Act Before Illinois Legislature Would Decrease Stress on Ratepayers, Advocates Say

Groups are pushing the state General Assembly to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, as increased strain on the grid has led to energy price spikes. Illinois advocacy groups are pressing state legislators to pass a package of comprehensive energy reforms that would help the state reach its clean energy goals and could

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Illinois Residents Urge Lawmakers to Act on Transit, Energy Bills

As part of a “People Over Polluters” event, more than 100 local environmental advocates traveled to the state capital to lobby during the state’s short fall veto session. SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—To meet with state lawmakers here, Michael Churchill, 24, left his home south of Chicago at 3 a.m. Wednesday, took a rideshare to a commuter rail

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Advocates gather in the Rotunda for a climate action rally.

Hundreds Rally at the State Capitol Urging State Lawmakers to Prioritize People Over Polluters Amidst Mounting Federal Attacks

Advocates calling for passage of bills that accelerate clean energy and fix and fund public transit Springfield, IL — Hundreds of community leaders, environmental advocates, faith leaders, business representatives, consumer groups, and state legislators rallied at the Illinois State Capitol today to call on lawmakers to pass critical climate bills in the October veto session, including

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President Donald Trump cancels $583M in energy projects for Illinois, one of many blue states affected

Amid a funding stalemate in Congress and a federal government shutdown, President Donald Trump’s planned termination of nearly $8 billion for energy projects primarily in states that didn’t vote for him includes $583 million in cuts for projects in Illinois. Among those set to lose tens of millions of dollars in anticipated funding are power giant Exelon,

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Illinois’ push to train workers for solar industry jobs is paying off

A state-funded hub for clean energy workforce development is creating employment and business opportunities in the surrounding community. Advocates applauded the law’s impact at a celebration of the Alton hub at Lewis and Clark last month. ​“Now because of CEJA,” said Francisco Lopez Zavala, climate policy program associate of the Illinois Environmental Council, hubs like the community college ​“are

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The grades are out on legislators and the environment

More than a third of state lawmakers scored 100 percent on IL Environmental Council scorecard. The Illinois Environmental Council is out with its 2025 legislative scorecard. “This year we saw 39 state representatives and 25 state senators receive 100 percent scores based on sixteen bills,” said the council’s executive director, Jen Walling, “and over fifty percent of sitting state

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Lewis and Clark Community College Training Next Generation of Clean Energy Workers in Illinois

Alton-area workforce training program made possible by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act has graduated 57 students and is training 47 more Alton, IL — Yesterday, Lewis and Clark Community College (LC) and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) hosted a tour of LC’s training facilities at the Scott Bibb Center, where students are enrolled in

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Five Things to Know About Illinois’ New Climate Displacement Act

State lawmakers and environmental advocates drafted a bill to prepare the state for migration, recognizing the Midwest as a climate haven for people evading climate disasters. After wildfires erupted near Illinois State Sen. Graciela Guzmán’s extended family’s home in Los Angeles, the fear of the next wildfire lingered. Her family started talking about whether it

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Renewable and clean energy sector faces uncertainty amid federal tax incentive cuts

The Illinois Environmental Council [IEC] is a nonprofit organization working to make sure environmental and climate communities are heard in public policy and legislative affairs. IEC published its own analysis of the bill, claiming it would set back environmental progress, jobs and initiatives across Illinois. The organization is worried how the law will affect the wallets

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Illinois’ Governor Has Led on Climate Policy. Here’s How Experts Assess His Work So Far

Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, which represents 100 environmental groups, considers Pritzker surprisingly forward-thinking on climate. “I’ve been doing this for 15 years and I’ve been through, even before this, almost four different governors’ administrations. Governor Pritzker has been the absolute best on environment and climate,” she said.   “He blends an

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