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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

DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION: University of Illinois Business Innovation Services is a not-for-profit training and consulting group dedicated to improving processes, efficiencies, and systems in manufacturing, municipalities, businesses, and healthcare with a 27 year track record of success helping organizations to become high performing and sustainable. U of I BIS received a grant to develop Illinois’ local food and farm economy, by creating a vibrant food system ”that revitalizes rural and urban communities, promotes healthy eating with access to fresh foods, creates jobs, ensures a readily available supply of safe food in an emergency event, and supports economic growth through making local farm or food products available to all Illinois citizens.” (Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act of 2009).

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Council Membership: Develop memberships in the Council from individuals, businesses and organizations; create local chapters of the Council in each county in Illinois.
2. Stakeholder Relations & Partnerships: Develop and nurture strategic relationships and partnerships that advance the purpose and priorities of the Council; manage communication vehicles that encourage stakeholder information sharing and cooperation (including the Council list serv).
3. Public Relations and Promotion: Represent the Council, as appropriate, at public events and as spokesperson to the media; may serve on the boards of affiliated organizations; establish relationships with key leaders in the community as a means of supporting the Council’s purpose and priorities; provide oversight for the communications plan; and assist in the development, writing, and production of key promotional materials such as press releases, reports, etc.
4. Policy Advocacy: Keep elected officials abreast of developments and advocate for policies that further
the development of a local food and farm economy in Illinois; oversee the production of the Council’s
annual report and engage elected officials and government personnel in the issues presented therein.
5. Other Responsibilities: The Policy and Outreach Specialist may be assigned additional duties as determined by the Council Chair and executive committee.

ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONSHIP: This position reports to the Director of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council in Cooperation with the Co-Chairs of the Council.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please create your candidate profile at jobs.illinois.edu and upload your letter of interest (that states the job title and search number), current resume, a current writing sample, and names,addresses, and telephone numbers of three current references by: August 25, 2010. All requested information must be submitted for your application to be considered. Applicants may be interviewed prior to the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. For additional information about the position, please contact Sandra Malikowski at 630/505 -0500 x222.

Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse
backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.
(www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
•       A minimum of ten years experience in senior leadership roles in nonprofit organizations,
•       business, and/or government.
•       Strong outreach skills and knowledge of administrative systems.
•       Knowledge of building networks.
•       Experience with advocacy or lobbying.
•       Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills.
•       Excellent writing and editing skills.
•       Supervisory experience.
•       Positive team player and successful experience working in coalitions, associations, boards and
•       other cooperative cross-sectoral initiatives.
•       Reliable self-starter, with excellent ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines.
•       Highly organized, with excellent attention to detail.
•       Windows and internet literacy, and proficiency using Microsoft Word and Excel.
•       A Masters Degree.
•       A commitment to the Council’s work to build local food systems.
•       Ability to travel on a periodic basis and participate in occasional evening/weekend meetings and events.

DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION: University of Illinois Business Innovation Services is a not-for-profit training and consulting group dedicated to improving processes, efficiencies, and systems in manufacturing, municipalities, businesses, and healthcare with a 27 year track record of success helping organizations to become high performing and sustainable. U of I BIS received a grant to develop Illinois ’local food and farm economy, by creating a vibrant food system”that revitalizes rural and urban communities, promotes healthy eating with access to fresh foods, creates jobs, ensures a readily available supply of safe food in an emergency event, and supports economic growth through making local farm or food products available to all Illinois citizens.” (Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act of 2009).

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Fiscal Viability: In partnership with the Council (board of directors), ensure the financial health of the Council through the management of an effective resource development program and sound fiscal management/planning.
2. Administrative Management: Responsible for training and supervision of all staff, volunteers, and interns; work in partnership with executive committee to ensure growth and development, a positive working environment, and a collegial team model. Develop and assist other staff in implementation of effective administrative and management systems.
3. Program Oversight: Ensure that the programmatic activities of the Council are conducted in a thorough, timely and responsive manner. Ensure that the program agenda is responsive to Council’s stated purpose
and priorities. Ensure that all programs are carried out in alignment with the Council’s “core values” and operating guidelines (i.e., subsidiary, noncompetition, and facilitation).
4. Planning and Organization Development: Work with Council members and stakeholders to complete annual and long-range plans for Council; carry out annual evaluations and assessments of the Council’s work according to identified outcomes and indicators; complete organizational incorporation (including bylaws and other legal and organizational documents). 5. Other Responsibilities: The Council Director may be assigned additional duties as determined by the Council Chair and executive committee.

ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONSHIP: This position reports to the Executive Director of Business Innovation Services, in Naperville, Illinois in coordination with the Co-Chairs of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please create your candidate profile at jobs.illinois.edu and upload your letter of interest (that states the job title and search number), current resume, a current writing sample, and names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three current references by: August 25, 2010. All requested information must be submitted for your application to be considered. Applicants may be interviewed prior to the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. For additional information about the position, please contact Sandra Malikowski at 630/505 -0500 x222.

Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
•       A minimum of ten years experience in senior leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, business, and/or government.
•       Strong management skills and knowledge of administrative systems.
•       Demonstrated experience with strategic planning and evaluation.
•       Successful track record with resource development.
•       Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills.
•       Excellent writing and editing skills.
•       Supervisory experience.
•       Positive team player and successful experience working in coalitions, associations, boards and
•       other cooperative cross-sectoral initiatives.
•       Reliable self-starter, with excellent ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines.
•       Highly organized, with excellent attention to detail.
•       Windows and internet literacy, and proficiency using Microsoft Word and Excel.
•       A Masters Degree.
•       A commitment to the Council’s work to build local food systems.
•       Ability to travel on a periodic basis and participate in occasional evening/weekend meetings and events.

The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) seeks to hire a dedicated public interest attorney advocate with three to six years of trial court and administrative litigation experience for a full-time position in our Columbus, Ohio office. This staff attorney will principally work on: (1) ELPC’s initiatives in Ohio to promote positive clean renewable energy and energy efficiency development solutions to meet energy needs in the regional power market, and help to solve global warming pollution problems; and (2) ELPC’s high-speed rail and other transportation reform policy initiatives in Ohio.

ORGANIZATION:  ELPC is the Midwest’s/Great Plains’ leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, and among the nation’s leaders.  ELPC’s major program areas include: promoting clean energy development strategies that solve global warming problems and reduce environmental degradation by encouraging renewable energy development and energy efficiency alternatives to conventional power plants; promoting innovative transportation approaches, such as the development of a Midwest high-speed rail network, that will lead to cleaner air and more jobs; and protecting and preserving vital natural resources and improving the quality of life in our communities. One of ELPC’s premises is that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together.  ELPC’s multidisciplinary professional staff includes 45 attorneys, M.B.A.s, public policy advocates and communications specialists. ELPC is headquartered in Chicago and has additional offices and professional staff in Columbus, OH, Des Moines, IA, Jamestown, ND, Minneapolis, MN, Madison, WI, Sioux Falls, SD, and Washington D.C.  ELPC was established in 1993 and has an annual budget of $6.75 million.  Please see www.elpc.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES:   The Ohio Attorney will work with ELPC’s senior attorneys on litigation and policy initiatives including, ELPC’s Clean Energy and Global Warming Solutions Projects and Transportation and Land Use Reform Project.  The Ohio Attorney will also engage with ELPC’s multidisciplinary project teams including, energy policy advocates, eco-business and communications specialists and others to advance the organization’s policy agenda in the Midwest. The Ohio Attorney will ideally be based in Columbus, Ohio.   

QUALIFICATIONS:  Three to six years of trial court or administrative litigation experience with substantial clean energy knowledge especially preferred.  Strong academic record and excellent writing, speaking and analytical skills.  Smart self-starter with track record of initiative and success.  An inspired and demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy and the ability to work productively as a member of a fast-paced team of skilled professionals is required.  Licensed to practice in Ohio or willing to become Licensed.

SALARY:  Commensurate with experience and with ELPC’s salary structure that is competitive with other major public interest environmental law organizations.  Excellent benefits provided. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:  Applicants should send a cover letter, resume and professional references by email to: OhioAttorney@elpc.org.  Telephone inquiries are discouraged.  The Environmental Law & Policy Center is an equal opportunity employer and is continually seeking to diversify its staff.

The BP and Enbridge oil spill disasters reminded everyone of the dangers from our addiction to oil.  Most Americans are looking for cleaner and safer ways to power our cars and heat our homes.  The good news is that shifting to cleaner cars and trucks can create new jobs, improve the environment and boost our economy at the same time.

Advancing cleaner cars provides an opportunity for new manufacturing jobs and product lines in the Midwest industrial states as automakers develop innovative technologies and better pollution controls.  Parts of the federal economic stimulus package are spurring the growth of the electric vehicle industry in the Midwest.  Let’s look at some of these new opportunities:

• On July 15th, President Obama attended groundbreaking ceremonies at Compact Power in Holland, Michigan, which is one of nine new advanced battery factories supported by $2.4 billion in Recovery Act funds.  This new factory will produce battery cells for 53,000 Chevy Volts annually and is expected to create hundreds of local jobs.

• Delphi Automotive Systems in Kokomo, Indiana gained a federal economic stimulus grant of $89.3 million to support building a $178.6 million manufacturing facility.  This plant will produce power electronics components for about 200,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2012 and help ensure that automakers have a globally competitive U.S. source for these components.  The project has thus far created/saved 60 jobs thus far and is expected to create/save 190 jobs at full production in 2014. 

• Dow Kokam announced that it will use $161 million in stimulus money to develop an 80,000 square-foot battery manufacturing facility near its Midland, Michigan headquarters.  This new plant will employ about 1,000 construction workers and then 800 people when complete.

• In Elkhart, Indiana, some hard-pressed gas-guzzling RV builders now plan to be manufacturing about 20,000 electric vehicles by 2013 for Norwegian-based Think motors.  Think plans to invest $43.5 million improving and equipping its Elkhart plant, and expects to create more than 400 jobs in the area.

• Indianapolis-based EnerDel Inc. says that $118.5 million in federal stimulus money will enable it to double the size of its headquarters on the city’s northeast side.  EnerDel will also soon employ up to 1,400 people manufacturing lithium-ion battery systems for electric and hybrid vehicles in Greenfield, Indiana.  EnerDel and Ener1 Inc. plan to grow from 300 jobs today to 3,000 jobs or more by 2015.

• On July 26th, EnVision Motor Company announced its plans to produce electric vehicles at a new assembly plant in Webster City, Iowa. The EnVision model will use foreign-produced car bodies and American-made electrical parts. The new Webster City plant is expected to employ 300 people.

• Ford Motor announced its plans to invest $135 million, including $62.7 million in federal stimulus funds, for design, engineering and production of next-generation electric vehicles. Ford plans to relocate battery assembly work from Mexico to its Rawsonville, Michigan plant, and electric-drive transaxle production from Japan to its Van Dyke plant, resulting in 170 manufacturing jobs in Michigan.

The Midwest’s pool of highly skilled workers should be building the cleaner new cars and components. These good manufacturing jobs are the “green jobs” for our future.

Under federal clean car standards finalized this spring, the average fuel economy for passenger cars will improve by almost 40 percent — from 27.5 mpg in 2009, to 37.8 mpg by 2016. The new innovative technologies are expected to save up to 11.6 billion gallons of gasoline annually by 2016. That’s equivalent to cutting U.S. oil imports from Saudi Arabia in half.

Building cleaner, more fuel efficient cars will save consumers $35 billion annually at the pump (at $3/gallon gas prices), and they will reduce lifetime greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles produced between 2012 and 2016 by more than 655 million tons. That’s a big step forward.

The transition to cleaner cars of the future should be accompanied by deploying modern technologies to clean up the electricity generating sources. Driving an electric car doesn’t help the environment as much if it’s charged by electricity generated from older, highly-polluting coal plants.  We can and should use clean power to charge electric vehicles.  Let’s build charging stations powered mostly by solar and wind energy 

Solar energy is most available on the hot, sunny afternoons when power market prices are highest and the power is needed most. Wind power is plentiful at night and provides “no pollution, no fuel cost” energy.  If electric vehicle charging stations are powered by solar and wind energy, the pollution equation works well. The state Public Utilities Commissions and our state legislatures should strengthen “net metering” rates and standards for the charging stations to sell valuable solar-generated power back into the grid when it is not fully used for charging cars.  Likewise, the Commissions should create discounted night-time charging rates for electric vehicles to reflect the lower power market prices and available wind power generation.

The Midwest is America’s auto industry center and should be the leader in gaining the jobs of the future by building the cleaner cars that increase our energy independence, reduce pollution, save us money at the pump and grow our economy.  Getting cleaner, more efficient cars on the roads is a key step forward for reducing our oil dependence. As the BP and Enbridge oil spills unfortunately showed us, business as usual is not the right path for our economy or environment.  Let’s be smarter and do better.

The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) seeks to hire a full-time transportation policy advocate.   This policy advocate will work to promote environmentally sustainable transportation policies and projects around the Midwest, including development a Midwest High-Speed Rail Network.

ORGANIZATION:  ELPC is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization.  ELPC’s major program areas include: promoting clean energy development strategies that solve global warming problems and reduce environmental degradation by encouraging renewable energy development and energy efficiency alternatives to conventional power plants; promoting innovative transportation approaches that will lead to cleaner air and more jobs; and protecting and preserving critical natural resources and improving the quality of life in our communities. One of ELPC’s premises is that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together.  ELPC’s multidisciplinary professional staff includes 40 attorneys, M.B.A.s, public policy advocates and communications specialists. ELPC is headquartered in Chicago and has additional offices and staff in Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Jamestown, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Madison, Wisconsin; and Washington, DC.  ELPC was established in 1993 and has an annual budget of $6.7 million.   For more information, please see www.elpc.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES:   The policy advocate will work with ELPC’s Deputy Director and other members of ELPC’s transportation team to promote environmentally sustainable transportation policies and projects around the Midwest.  Responsibilities include public education and outreach, policy research and development, policy advocacy and grassroots organizing in support of a Midwest High-Speed Rail Network and other transportation projects and policies.  The policy advocate will be engaged in work on statewide, regional, and national transportation reform. This position requires occasional travel throughout the Midwest.  

QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates should have at least two years of experience in policy analysis and advocacy and should understand and enjoy strategic advocacy that involves media, legislative, policy analysis and organizing.  Candidates should have strong academic records, excellent oral communication and writing skills, strong analytic abilities and a demonstrated interest in public interest and environmental advocacy.  An inspired and demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy and the ability to work productively as a member of a team of skilled professionals is required.

SALARY:  Commensurate with experience and with ELPC’s salary structure that is competitive with other large public interest environmental organizations.  Excellent benefits provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS:  Applicants should send a cover letter, resume and professional references by regular mail or email to:  Fidelia Gaines, Administrative Assistant, Environmental Law & Policy Center, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL  60601, or Email:  Fgaines@elpc.org.   Telephone inquiries are discouraged.  The Environmental Law & Policy Center is an equal opportunity employer and is continually seeking to diversify its staff.

Sierra Club, Environmental Law and Policy Center and Workers United/SEIU joined today in praising EPA’s action. The plan announced by EPA includes further health and safety studies of the effects of NPEs on people and the environment, while beginning the process to regulate the chemical under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Future actions would add NPEs to the Toxics Release Inventory and encourage the use of safer substitutes.

“We know these chemicals are highly toxic and we know there are safer alternatives,” said Albert Ettinger, Senior Attorney with the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “If we want to protect public health, then NPEs should stop being used for many of their current applications. This action by the EPA is an important step in that direction.”

“Union members have been demanding government and industry action on toxic detergents for over half a decade. The detergents have been banned in Europe and Canada for almost a decade,” said Eric Frumin, Health and Safety Director for Workers United/SEIU. “We commend Administrator Jackson for acting swiftly on these hazards, and call upon the laundry industry to get rid of these chemicals immediately, as they have already done Canada and in Connecticut.”

“When chemicals in our environment, such as NPEs, affect the gender of fish, it’s a danger sign that more scrutiny is needed for chemicals we produce and use.  The action plan for NPEs that EPA announced today is a welcome first step to protect wildlife and human health,” said Ed Hopkins, Director of the Sierra Club’s Environmental Quality Program.  “But Congress must give EPA the regulatory tools it needs to control dangerous chemicals more effectively.”

In 2007, Sierra Club, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Workers United (formerly UNITE HERE), Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Washington Toxics Coalition petitioned the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act to require further toxicity testing of NPEs and to take steps to control it.  EPA largely denied the petition, but following litigation and an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, today’s action marks initial steps by the Obama administration to address NPEs health and environmental risks.

In an OpEd published in the Des Moines Register, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner says, “Iowa can and should be a leader in gaining the jobs of the future by helping build new, cleaner cars that increase our energy independence, reduce pollution and save us money at the pump.” Read the full OpEd.

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  to Illinois consumers by 2014. ELPC was instrumental in crafting and advocating for these bills. Read more