Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is seeking public input on a program that aims to increase the amount of electricity generated by small renewable energy projects, known as distributed generation.
ELPC recently helped South Dakota enact interconnection standards, the rules necessary to help small energy producers connect to the grid. ELPC Policy Advocate Matt McLarty said that gathering public input on its Small Renewable Energy Initiative is a ”critically important step.”
“If South Dakota is going to see its potential fully develop, especially in wind, this is a critical step to layer businesses, as well as small producers, to start a dialogue and get this going,” McLarty said.
Read coverage of the initiative in the Argus Leader
the public can comment on the initiative through this website
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Great news! Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed historic global warming solutions legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (219-212). This was no easy victory – it was achieved in part through constituents’ many letters and phone calls asking legislators to vote “Yes” on the Waxman-Markey Bill. ELPC and our many partners are now turning our strategic attention to the Senate.
Read Grist story quoting ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner on the passage of the bill. “Today’s vote creates momentum for our country to reduce global warming pollution and advance clean energy solutions,” said Howard A. Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “We appreciate the Midwest and Great Plains legislators who stood up for the future and voted in favor of this vital legislation.”
Friday, June 26, 2009
With a close vote expected on historic climate and energy legislation, Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor Lawton wrote to the Wisconsin congressional delegation urging representatives to vote for the Waxman-Markey bill. Read Lt. Governor Lawton’s letter here.
Call from individuals may be the best way to influence this important vote. Call your legislators today and ask them to vote yes on the the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill.
Friday, June 19, 2009
ELPC Government Relations Specialist Mindi Grieve, in ELPC’s Jamestown, North Dakota office, has an OpEd in the June 20th Grand Forks Herald. The opinion piece touts North Dakota’s strong clean energy resources and the state’s strong potential to benefit from clean energy legislation:
“Transitioning to a new clean-energy economy will create a bright economic future for North Dakota. In fact, the transition is already under way…North Dakota stands to gain a great deal from clean energy legislation. Our state has a huge potential for wind energy, clean biofuels and other energy sources.”
Read the full OpEd.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The Federal Railroad Administration announced in an interview this week that the Midwest and California are leading the competition for $8 billion dollars of stimulus funding for high speed rail plans. Eight Midwest states have collaborated on a plan for a new high speed rail system in the Midwest which will update three existing routes, placing Chicago as the network hub. This rail plan is one of the most developed of the plans to be submitted to the FRA, with initial deadlines for plan applications set in early July. Read the article in Businessweek to learn more about FRA guidelines and other regions’ high speed rail plans.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Environmental Law and Policy Center is currently working to organize grassroots support in the Chicagoland area for national global warming legislation. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will take nationwide action to solve global warming by expanding renewable energy, promoting energy efficiency, and curbing carbon emissions.
We need your help to raise public awareness and support for this historic bill. After successfully passing the bill in the House of Representatives it is now up to the Senate and President Obama to ensure that the Unites States takes action to solve climate change and adopt a coherent clean energy policy.
If you would like to learn about future volunteer opportunities to help raise support for this historic environmental legislation please contact Katy Hintzen today by calling 773-812-3567 or e-mailing khintzen@elpc.org.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Industrial chemicals have contaminated drinking water in parts of Chicago’s suburbs. ELPC Senior Attorney Albert Ettinger spoke with the Southtown Star about how decades old pollution can make its way into our groundwater. Read the article in the Southtown Star.
Friday, June 12, 2009
ELPC helped create interconnection standards in South Dakota that will make it easier for renewable energy producers to connect to the grid. Those rules were officially approved on June 9, 2009 and will be effective at the end of this month. The rules will pave the way for South Dakota to take advantage of its renewable energy potential.
Read the front page story about the new rules in the Argus Leader.
Friday, June 12, 2009
On June 12, television broadcasts in the U.S. switched from analog to digital. After the switch, older televisions require a digital converter to receive broadcasts.
This conversion could prompt millions of Americans to dispose of older television sets. Each television contains large amounts of toxins such as lead and mercury that can end up in our soil and groundwater if televisions aren’t recycled.
ELPC helped to spread the word about the importance of recycling televisions and other e-waste through an interview on Chicago Public Radio and a segment on NBC 5.
ELPC worked with the state of Illinois to enact one of the toughest e-waste recycling and reuse laws in the nation. When Illinois’ e-waste recycling law takes effect January 1, 2010, manufacturers will begin creating more options for consumers to recycle electronics at no cost.
Here are some important facts about the digital tv conversion:
1. If you use cable or satellite TV, you don’t need to change anything.
2. You don’t need to dispose of older analog TV’s, but you’ll need a digital tv converter box to recieve broadcasts. Find out how to get a converter box at www.dtv.gov
3. If you decide to replace your television, please take it to a responsible recycler. You can locate a recycler near you at this website. A list of TV recycling options in the City of Chicago is available here.
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Monday, June 8, 2009
Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the Mississippi river basin is creating a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico that is roughly the size of New Jersey. The dead zone is a major problem for aquatic life and the fishing industry.
ELPC Senior Attorney Albert Ettinger spoke to Chicago Public Radio about how Chicago is one of the largest single contributors of dead zone pollution and what needs to be done to alleviate the problem.
Listen to the story here
