ELPC has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator, the independent non-profit rating agency. This 4-star “exceptional” rating means that ELPC’s fiscal management “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.” Only 12% of non-profits have attained this rating for three consecutive years. Click here for more details.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
AIA Honors ELPC for Leadership on Green Building Code
ELPC was honored to receive the President’s Award from the American Institute of Architects Illinois for extraordinary achievements in advancing livable communities. ELPC’s Al Grosboll, left, and Melville Nickerson, right, accepted the award on behalf of ELPC at AIA Illinois’ annual conference from AIA Illinois President Tim McGinn, AIA.
In particular, the award recognizes ELPC’s years of leadership and advocacy to establish Energy Efficient Building Codes for residential and commercial buildings in Illinois.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
U.S. Green Building Council Names ELPC a “Natural Leader”
In recognition of ELPC’s leadership on Illinois’ Energy Efficient Building Code and the Chicago Climate Action Plan, the Chicago Chapter of the US Green Building Council honored ELPC as a Natural Leader. ELPC’s Howard Learner and Jill Geiger, pictured center, accepted the award on behalf of ELPC from USGBC-Chicago Chapter Executive Director Doug Widener, left, and Board Chair Joseph Clair, right.
The “Intent to Matter” award was presented to ELPC at the Emerald Gala, USGBC’s annual celebration of the sustainable building movement, on May 16, 2009.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
Chicago Magazine Names ELPC’s Learner a Green Leader
In recognition of his work to make the planet ‘greener and better,’ Chicago Magazine honored ELPC President Howard Learner with a ‘Green Award’.
The April issue of Chicago Magazine included a profile of Howard that highlights some of ELPC’s successes, including bringing renewable energy and energy efficiency standards to Illinois, reducing mercury pollution in Illinois waters and working to bring high-speed rail to the Midwest.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
ELPC hosted a special webinar on November 18th highlighting the potentialfor a solar power boom in the Midwest. Featured speakers included ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner, Staff Attorney Brad Klein and Policy Advocate Madeleine Weil.
Price shifts, market changes and supportive policies are coming together in ways that can help solar power accelerate fast around the region. The economics of solar power are becoming more favorable due to a confluence of factors:
Solar photovoltaic (PV) module prices have fallen sharply due to excess supply in the global market.
Federal and state policies are working to support solar power. The federal economic stimulus legislation and other initiatives are providing new incentives and support for solar energy development. In the states, for example, Illinois has created a “solar carve out” in the state’s strong renewable energy standard that will provide a procurement market for 700-750 megawatts of solar power by 2015.
Large-scale solar developments are going forward on former industrial sites where there is unobstructed sunlight and low-cost access to the electrical grid. In some cases, brownfield redevelopment, recovery bonds and other tax credits and subsidies are available.
In the current economic downturn, there are skilled workers looking for “green jobs” installing solar systems.
Vision to Reality: Getting On Board Midwest High-Speed Rail
ELPC, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, and special guests from across the region gathered in Chicago on October 19th to celebrate this year’s remarkable breakthroughs toward achieving a Midwest High-Speed Rail Network.
This vision, shared by ELPC and many of our allies, is quickly coming into focus.
This interactive online presentation, displayed at the event, features images, maps, and facts highlighting the need for a Midwest High-Speed Rail Network.
Learn how ELPC’s and our allies’ many years of hard work are making the difference in the fight to turn the vision of a regional high-speed rail network into a reality for all Midwesterners.
In February 2009, Congress and the President committed unprecedented funding for the development of high-speed rail systems throughout the country. The federal government’s investment in high-speed rail is good for the environment, good for the economy, and good for job creation throughout our region. This investment could create a fundamental structural reform for our nation’s transportation infrastructure.
On Monday, August 24th, this federal funding cycle began in earnest when states were required to submit their bids for the first round of funding. The states involved in the Midwest high-speed rail network are coordinating their bids for federal funding as a result of an agreement reached in late July by each of the states’ governors and Chicago Mayor Daley.
ELPC hosted a special webinar on September 1st on high-speed rail development featuring ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner and Deputy Director Kevin Brubaker. You can watch and listen to the briefing below to learn what’s at stake in the initial cycle of federal funding for high-speed rail, including a summary of the proposed Midwest high-speed rail projects and what to expect as we move closer to realizing our goal of high-speed rail in the Midwest.
ELPC hosted a webinar on June 9th to review opportunities to improve energy efficiency that have been created through the federal economic stimulus legislation. Th bill provides more than $15 billion to improve energy efficiency of homes, offices and public buildings in ways that reduce energy costs, avoid pollution, create jobs and support economic vitality.
Congress is now considering legislation that would create the first national energy efficiency standard, Illinois is advancing a new statewide energy efficient residential building code and the Chicago Climate Action Plan and other local initiatives call for rapidly expanding energy efficiency retrofits of buildings in our communities.
The webinar featured ELPC’s Executive Director Howard Learner, ELPC Clean Energy Policy Advocate Barry Matchett, and Craig Sieben, President of Sieben Energy Associates. They described how the federal economic stimulus funding is being designed and implemented, assessed the potential impact of new Illinois Energy Efficient Building Code and summarized a case study of how a commercial office building can gain efficiency benefits.
Growing Chicago’s Green Business and Clean Tech Economy
How can Chicago become a national green business center? That was the focus of “Growing Chicago’s Green Business and Clean Tech Economy” a conference by the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center on September 4th. Here are some highlights from the day.
ELPC hosted a special webinar on November 18th highlighting the potentialfor a solar power boom in the Midwest. Featured speakers included ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner, Staff Attorney Brad Klein and Policy Advocate Madeleine Weil.
