Monday, January 9, 2012
The Bear Run coal mine will soon become the largest — and least regulated — coal mine in the Eastern United States. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has decided to “rubber stamp” the mine with the same weak general permit that governs many small mines in other parts of the state, rather than fulfill its obligation to protect Hoosiers and aquatic life. As ELPC Staff Attorney Jessica Dexter tells the IndyStar, the idea that a mine the size of Bear Run is not a project IDEM thinks “could have a significant impact” is ludicrous. Read the article.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) commends Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for awarding more than $186 million to the Illinois Department of Transportation for work on the extension of the Chicago-St. Louis line to Joliet. Work will begin in the spring and will enable improved 110-mph passenger rail service along 70 percent of the line.
Howard Learner, ELPC President and a nationally recognized expert on high-speed passenger rail, had this to say about the award:
“This grant provides a critical step in bringing high-speed rail to the Midwest. Investing in modern, fast, comfortable and convenient higher-speed rail service is a smart move, since better rail service will improve mobility, reduce pollution, create new jobs and spur economic growth. While the media is fixated on the problems of the California corridor, the Midwest has sensibly begun building a first-class system that will reach 110 mph within a year.
“We are already seeing the economic benefits rail is bringing to the region. Normal, Illinois has already seen more than $200 million in investment. With the help of this grant, trains will reduce congestion and make the Midwest a better place to start businesses and create jobs.”
The entire upgrade of the Chicago-St. Louis line will reduce travel time and improve on-time performance. Ridership has grown 137 percent during the last five years on this popular corridor.
American-made trains will be used on the lines, which will be purchased as part of the $782 million grant for domestic manufacturing. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, California, Washington and Oregon will purchase 120 be-level passenger cars, along with 33 quick-acceleration locomotives.
ELPC is nationally known for its high-speed rail advocacy. The organization has studied passenger rail for nearly two decades and provide transportation counsel and policy support to state, local and federal government.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Illinois Commerce Commission issued its Final Order in the case approving the Illinois Power Agency’s 2012 Procurement Plan. The Order should trigger a productive and inclusive workshop process that will result in an Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) procurement program for distributed solar projects. There were 37 public comments submitted to the ICC supporting solar DG workshops. Read the public comments here.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
In the Chicago Tribune’s lead editorial on Dec. 28th, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner discusses why the EPA’s recently announced federal Mercury and Air Toxics Standard is good for public health, the environment and the economy. Illinois enacted strong state standards in 2006 and has proven that it’s possible to control pollution from coal plants. The new federal rules will level the playing field among coal plants in all states. Read the editorial.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a new Mercury and Air Toxics Standard that will greatly reduce the amount of mercury, acid gases and other toxic pollution emitted from coal plants. This landmark move by EPA will reinforce the important Clean Air Act public health standards enacted more than 20 years ago. Read the EPA’s announcement and final rule.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
New federal investments will expand access to smart transportation Illinois. Alton, Illinois received a $13.8 million grant through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program to construct the Alton Regional Multi-modal Transportation Center. The transportation center will increase the impact of the high-speed rail station in Alton, linking rail and surface transportation and creating more efficient travel options in Illinois.
Chicago was awarded $20 million in TIGER funding to expand the city’s bike sharing program and make improvements to the CTA Blue Line. TIGER funding was awarded to over a dozen projects around the country that will create jobs and long term economic growth by investing in our nation’s infrastructure.
“These investments are important building blocks that leverage high-speed rail and public transit to improve mobility, create jobs, spur economic growth and reduce pollution,” said ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner. “We commend Senator Durbin, Transportation Secretary LaHood and Illinois’ congressional delegation for investing in smart transportation projects that will benefit our economy and our environment.”
The Environmental Law & Policy Center advocates for high-speed rail and other smart transportation options that will increase mobility and economic growth while reducing air pollution and traffic congestion.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The City of Chicago, together with its solar-development partners the Environmental Law & Policy Center, Illinois Institute of Technology, and West Monroe Partners has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge. The City will use the grant funds to transform Chicago into a national leader in residential and commercial rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) development by cutting red tape—streamlining and standardizing permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes—and improving finance options to reduce barriers and lower costs for residential and small commercial rooftop solar systems.
Read the full press release at the City of Chicago’s website
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Springfield Journal Register featured a front page story on Habitat for Humanity and their electronics recycling program. The program is expected to see a jump in recycling starting January 1, 2012 with the implementation of the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act. ELPC helped pass Illinois’ e-waste legislation that will keep toxic chemicals out of landfills and create more opportunities for recycling businesses.
Read the full article at the Springfield Journal Register.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Now that free residential recycling programs are in place for electronic products, Illinois will ban electronics from landfills beginning January 1st, 2012. Illinois’ electronic waste standard is one of the strongest in the nation, and requires manufacturers of electronics to provide free recycling options to Illinois consumers. As of January 1st, Illinois will officially ban electronic products from landfills and encourage consumers to take advantage of free recycling options.
Public Act 97-0287 bans 17 electronic products from landfills. The landfill ban includes: TVs, computers (including desktop, notebook, tablet), monitors, printers, computer peripherals, VCRs/DVD players, gaming systems, MP3 players, scanners, fax machines and small scale servers. These products contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and beryllium that must be properly managed to prevent soil and groundwater contamination.
Illinois Senator Susan Garrett and Representative Daniel Biss sponsored the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act that requires manufacturers to take responsibility for recycling obsolete residential electronic products. Obsolete electronic products also contain valuable materials that can be recycled for reuse such as copper, gold and circuit chips. The law requires electronics manufacturers to set up a take-back program for used electronics or partner with local recyclers to offer residents a free electronics recycling program at venues close to home.
“The residential electronic recycling program keeps toxic chemicals out of our soil and water, creates new jobs for the state’s recycling industry, and makes recycling easy for consumers without any additional costs,” said Melville Nickerson, Staff Attorney at ELPC, which advised on policy and built support for the legislation. “Illinois is one of 25 states that has passed legislation to solve the problem of discarded electronics, the fastest growing element of our country’s municipal waste stream.”
The Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act culminates years of work by Senator Garrett, Representative Dan Biss, ELPC and other business and environmental organizations to address the growing problem of obsolete electronics. According to the US EPA, Americans throw away 400 million electronic products each year.
For more information in the landfill ban and the free residential recycling program visit http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/electronic-waste-recycling/consumer-education.html
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Friday, November 18, 2011
The Chicago Tribune reports that one of the nation’s dirtiest coal plants will shut down in March 2012, rather than in 2014 as expected. The State Line coal plant sits on the shore of Lake Michigan in Hammond, IN, just across the border from Chicago. ELPC’s 2010 report on State Line found that soot and smog pollution from the plant cost the public over $77 million per year in health and related damages.
“Now that they’re on the path to shutting down, the question is how soon the site will be ready for redevelopment,” said ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the Tribune. “We have an opportunity to replace a dirty clunker with an extension of open space along Lake Michigan.”
Read the Chicago Tribune article here
