Environmental Law and Policy Center » Illinois

Chicago Gets Geared Up For Electric Vehicles

pgray — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:26:57 +0000

With plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles ready to hit the marketplace, an article in the Chicago Tribune looks at whether Chicago is ready to support electric vehicle charging. The Chicago area is the third largest auto market in the nation, and with low-carbon sources of electricity available, it’s ideal location to use an plug-in vehicles to reduce global warming pollution.

Supporting plug-in vehicles means providing public charging stations, streamlining the process to install home charging stations and providing incentives to reduce the amount of pollution created by charging plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the Tribune, “We need to get the right policies in place, moving forward, soon. And when I say soon, I mean get them in place over the next six months to a year.” ELPC is working with the public and private sectors in Chicago to maximize the environmental benefits of plug-in vehicles.

Read the article here Learn more about plug-in vehicles at elpc.org/plug-ins

New Illinois Legislation Boosts Solar Power

pgray — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:02:50 +0000

ELPC Policy Advocate Madeleine Weil, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, ELPC Policy Advocate Sarah Wochos and ELPC Co-Legislative Director Al Grosboll

On August 17, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law two bills that will create more than 5,000 new jobs and bring more than 3 million kilowatt hours of solar electricity to Illinois consumers by 2014. ELPC was instrumental in crafting and advocating for these bills, which will increase the number of solar installations around the state.

The Solar Ramp Up bill (HB 6202) sets annual targets for the amount of solar power used in Illinois between 2012 and 2015, these targets give industry a green light to invest in solar power and create new jobs, revenue and clean energy here in Illinois. The Homeowners’ Solar Rights Act (HB 5429) clarifies the rights of homeowners living in homeowner or condominium associations to put solar panels on the property and outlines a process for that to occur.

Read coverage from the Associated Press

New York Times: Pressure Building on Chicago’s Coal Plants

pgray — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:15:00 +0000

The campaign to clean up Chicago’s aging coal plants was featured in the New York Times on August 6. The article details the progress of the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance, legislation that would force the coal plants to drastically reduce carbon dioxide and particulate matter pollution. The ordinance was introduced by Alderman Joe Moore in April and has gained 14 cosponsors including Alderman Ricardo Muñoz of the 22nd ward, where the Crawford coal plant is located.

ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the New York Times, “The reality is the coal comes from Wyoming, other states get the power, Midwest Generation gets the profit, and Chicago gets the pollution and health costs.”

ELPC has been actively supporting the ordinance and helped pass 2006 regulations that greatly reduced mercury pollution from Illinois coal plants.

Construction of Chicago – St. Louis High-Speed Rail to Begin in September

pgray — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:36:55 +0000

A recent agreement between Union Pacific Railroad and the Illinois Department of Transportation clears the way for construction to begin on the Chicago-St. Louis high-speed rail corridor. The project is expected to create 900 new jobs.

“Our state is now moving to begin construction of a modern rail system that will create economic development, better travel options and less pollution,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center. ” The agreement is a big first step in the transformation of our transportation system.”

Construction on this project is expected to start this fall, and we look forward to high-speed trains operating in Illinois beginning in 2012. High-speed rail is a win-win-win: good for jobs, good for economic development and good for the environment.

Today’s announcement moves forward the work over many years by rail advocates and public officials.

Read coverage in the Chicago Sun Times

Illinois Coal Plant Expected to Raise Electricity Rates, Fuel Global Warming

pgray — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:23:17 +0000

The Chicago Tribune reports that the cost of a new coal plant under construction in southern Illinois has more than doubled to $4.4 billion, an increase which will affect residents in the Illinois towns that signed long-term contracts to purchase power from the plant. The Prairie State coal plant, built by Peabody Energy, the world’s largest private coal company, will burn coal from Peabody’s nearby mine, generating 1600 megawatts of electricity and generating 13 million tons of global warming pollution each year, the equivalent of putting 2 million more cars on the road.

Some argue that coal is the cheapest source of electricity available, but proposed federal regulations on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases could add additional costs to the power from this plant.

ELPC opposed the construction of the plant. As Executive Director Howard Learner told the Tribune, “These cities and towns are captive buyers at the mercy of Peabody and its ever-increasing costs. People are going to pay higher rates for more pollution. That isn’t a winning formula.”

Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.

Howard Learner in Chicago Tribune: Illinois Can be a Solar Energy Leader

pgray — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:44:51 +0000

A feature in the Chicago Tribune looks at the growth of solar power in Illinois. With solar equipment becoming more affordable and supportive policies in place to encourage solar energy in Illinois and other states, solar is beginning to take off in the Midwest. ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the Tribune that Illinois’ recent legislation to ramp up solar power development will create at least 5,000 new green jobs in Illinois and that developers are planning more solar power plants around the state, similar to the 10 MW plant completed in Chicago this year.

“Illinois has the opportunity to be a very significant solar energy leader between the two coasts,” Learner said.

Read the full article in the Chicago Tribune

Safety is key in planning for high-speed rail

pgray — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:19:18 +0000

ELPC Deputy Director Kevin Brubaker responded to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune that raised concerns about safeguarding pedestrian safety as high-speed rail expands in Illinois. Improved signaling and safety measures are an important part of investments to bring high-speed rail to the US. Recent increases in funding for high-speed rail create an opportunity to improve safety while creating more sustainable transportation options.

Read the letter here

Report: Midwest High-speed Rail Network Could Create $6.1 Billion in New Business and 42,000 New Jobs in Chicago

pgray — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:26:54 +0000

A study released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors outlines the economic impact of high-speed rail development on metropolitan areas across the US. The report examined job creation, the effects of improved market access, greater connectivity, travel time savings, as well as increased income and business sales and finds that Chicago stands to gain up to 42,000 new jobs and 6.1 billion in new business from the Midwest High-Speed Rail Network.

“This report emphasizes the opportunity here for Midwest high-speed rail will grow our economy while improving our environment. High-speed rail means good business for Chicago, improved mobility, reduced pollution and job creation,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center.

The report estimates that a Midwest high-speed rail network linking Minneapolis – Madison – Milwaukee, St. Louis, Detroit and other areas will being 3 million new visitors to downtown Chicago each year and will spur new commercial development around Union Station and other areas downtown.

The Environmental Law & Policy Center has worked for over a decade to build support for the Midwest High-Speed Rail Network. Progress toward Midwest high–speed took a major step forward when the Federal Railroad Administration awarded $2.6 billion to jumpstart construction of leading high-speed rail projects in the Midwest.

Click here for more information on ELPC’s high-speed rail program

Download the U.S. Conference of Mayors report here

CBS: Homeowners Solar Rights Act Makes Solar an Option for More Illinois Residents

pgray — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:26:33 +0000

ELPC advocated for the Illinois Homeowners Solar Rights Act (HB 5429) that requires homeowners associations to adopt acceptable design standards for solar systems in buildings up to three stories tall. The Act passed the General Assembly in May, which is good news for the environment and for families like the Goldmans whose homeowners association had prevented them from installing solar panels on their home.

Watch the story on CBS 2

Legislation to Boost Solar Power Passes Illinois General Assembly

pgray — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:07:34 +0000

On May 26, the Illinois General Assembly passed two bills that will create more than 5,000 new jobs and bring more than 3 million kilowatt hours of solar electricity to Illinois consumers by 2014.

“By removing barriers to solar power developers, these measures will create approximately 5,000 new jobs between now and 2015,” said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), a chief sponsor of HB 6202 in the Illinois Senate. “The cost of solar power has dropped dramatically, and by investing in solar energy now Illinois will be well-positioned to attract solar manufacturing and installation jobs and businesses.”

“This puts Illinois in a strong position to attract good, clean energy jobs in the growing solar energy industry,” said State Representative Will Burns (D-Chicago), who sponsored HB 6202 in the Illinois House. “Solar power offers potential jobs in communities that need them most, and cleaner air for all of us to breathe.”

“We’ve been talking about a clean energy future for a long time; now that future is here,” said Barry Matchett, Policy Advocate for the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “More than ever, we need to put people to work and create clean, safe sources of energy and that’s what these bills do.”

“Soon some of the electricity powering our homes will be coming from solar energy, in addition to the wind power we have started using in recent years,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. “We have created thousands of new wind power jobs with those purchases, and now stand to gain up to 5,000 new jobs by growing the solar industry – all while making deep cuts in air pollution.”

Illinois passed a landmark renewable energy standard in 2007 that requires 25% of Illinois’ electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2025. The law requires that at least 6% of the state’s renewable energy come from solar power by 2015, but it didn’t provide a path for Illinois utilities to meet that goal. HB 6202 establishes those targets and sets Illinois on the path to becoming the leading Midwestern state for solar energy. Because of HB 6202 more than 5,000 solar panel installation, manufacturing and maintenance jobs will be created and significant pollution will be avoided.

HB 6202 is the result of an agreement between advocates like the Environmental Law & Policy Center, Sierra Club and the state’s utilities and retail electric suppliers to create a logical schedule to phase in the solar component of renewable energy.

Other supporters of the bill include the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the City of Chicago, the AFL-CIO, Citizens Utility Board, Illinois Competitive Energy Association, Illinois Environmental Council and the Illinois Respiratory Health Association

Also on May 26, the General Assembly passed HB 5429, the Homeowners’ Solar Rights Act. The legislation clarifies the rights of homeowners living in homeowner or condominium associations to put solar panels on the property and outlines a process for that to occur.

“This legislation removes barriers for many homeowners who want to put solar panels on their roofs, but have been prevented from doing so by outdated restrictions,” said State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D- Chicago), who sponsored HB 5429, the Homeowners’ Solar Rights Act, in the Illinois House. “Now, Illinois homeowners who want to cut pollution and their utility bills by installing solar panels will be free to do so.”

Illinois job impacts were developed by Vote Solar using the Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model developed by the U.S. Depart. Of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).