ILLINOIS — On Sunday, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned without addressing Northeast Illinois transit agencies’ $770 million budget deficit, leaving the millions of transit riders who use the system every day and the transit operators who run and maintain our trains and buses in the lurch. Jen Walling released the following statement on behalf of the […]
Our team has been on the ground at the Capitol for the last five months, all the way up until the final moments this evening. And you’ve been right there with us.
Wrapping Up the 2025 Illinois Legislative Session Read More »
Hannah Flath, the senior climate communications manager for the Illinois Environmental Council, said the day gave advocates a unique opportunity to speak directly to elected representatives. “Our lawmakers work for us,” Flath said. “And so lobby day gives constituents across the state the opportunity to voice their opinions with their lawmakers and urge them to
ILLINOIS – Early Thursday morning, House Republicans passed a reconciliation bill that wipes out good-paying clean energy jobs and raises energy costs for families by gutting the historic progress made in the bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act. Hours earlier at the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday, hundreds of community leaders, environmental advocates, faith leaders, business representatives, consumer
With two full weeks of the legislative session left before the May 31 deadline, IEC is working overtime to ensure our priorities cross the finish line.
A Sprint to Accelerate Illinois’ Clean Energy Progress Read More »
A warning has been issued to anyone who takes public transportation in Chicago — with drastic service cuts looming, Illinois legislators only have until the end of the month to decide what to do and how to address it. Transit advocates are taking to the streets every week to warn riders. They say the cuts are as
We can’t count on Washington to do right for the environment. Good thing Illinois’ environmental movement is on top of it.
Illinois Has Your Back, Mother Earth Read More »
We’re midway through the legislative session. Our team has been hard at work this week rounding up roll call votes for many of the bills we’ve been tracking.
Conservation Advocacy in Illinois Read More »
Our legislative team at IEC has been working hard to ensure our bill sponsors have the tools and public support to advance our agenda this session.
Tackling Plastic Pollution in Illinois Read More »
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 »
With the fight over a federal clean energy funding freeze entering its second month, two of the biggest prizes in Illinois are emissions-reduction grants totaling more than $570 million. Now, the state appears closer to claiming both of them. In Illinois, which aims for 100% clean energy by 2050, the effects of the clean energy
Federal funding freeze lifted for some Illinois clean energy projects Read More »
See Illinois’ 2025 Environmental Legislative Agenda, including all of the most important environmental bills this session!
Illinois’ 2025 Environmental Legislative Agenda Read More »
Join us for a panel discussion that will explore the impact of President Trump’s executive orders on key areas including LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and environmental issues. Experts will analyze how these actions are affecting local residents, communities, and businesses, offering insights into the evolving legal, economic, and social implications. This panel will address the immediate
Illinois is offering buyers an incentive of $4,000 per vehicle. But at the federal level, the Trump administration is not a fan of EVs. GUESTS: Karen Weigert, Reset sustainability contributor, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility, and Dany Robles, legislative relations director, Illinois Environmental Council “We need a lot more
Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, is one of those who has had an eye on the White House. “When we look at this administration’s view on climate change, we absolutely should be concerned,” Walling told WBBM. “There’s been a series of executive orders that have unwound the Inflation Reduction Act, investments
Local environmental advocates remain hopeful despite Trump’s recent executive orders Read More »
Environmental leaders believe grants and other sources of funding will allow them to continue cutting pollution, even if federal money isn’t available following the change in administration. Experts from the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC), a Springfield-based public policy organization, believe the state will still commit to climate initiatives such as renewable energy, although Chicago will
Energy policy likely to be revisited in spring legislative session. Lawmakers this week passed a bill aimed at boosting the development of renewable energy generation, but its proponents said the final measure was a “skinny” version of what they had hoped to pass. “We’ve seen the effects of climate change. We’ve seen the effects on
Lawmakers give small boost to renewable developments, delay broader reform Read More »
As the new top environment cop in Illinois, James Jennings knew coming in his job would be challenging no matter who won the presidential election. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is rebuilding under Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker after more than a decade spent shedding inspectors, slowing the policing of air and water pollution and feuding with the
Pritzker EPA vows to step in as Trump calls for massive cuts to environmental protection Read More »
The deep blue state is preparing to protect climate and clean energy programs during a Trump administration, but uncertainty about federal incentives and environmental enforcement leaves questions. The last time President Donald Trump took office, Illinois had just passed the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), creating an ambitious renewable electricity mandate, solar incentive programs, green
A Letter from IEC Executive Director Jen Walling
Progress Here at Home Read More »
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