ELPC Ranked in Top 10 Highest-Rated Charities in U.S.
Based on ELPC’s Charity Navigator score on financial strength and management, ELPC is being recognized in the media as among “The 10 Highest-Rated Charities in America: 2011.” ELPC is the only environmental group and the only advocacy group on this list. Moreover, ELPC is the only listed group, which is located between the coasts. Read more on MSN Money and Main Street.
ELPC’s Chicago Eco-Office Receives LEED Platinum Certification
ELPC's new green office features natural daylighting, state-of-the-art HVAC controls, low-flow plumbing fixtures, ENERGY STAR appliances, and recycled and locally sourced materials. Learn about our new office.
ELPC has worked for years to promote standards that will increase fuel economy and decrease global warming pollution from cars and trucks. The Federal government has moved to enact clean car standards similar to those to those ELPC supported and considered by the Illinois General Assembly in HB422 and SB1941 (96th Assembly).
Under the new standards, average fuel economy for passenger cars will increase from 27.5 mpg in 2009 to 37.8 mpg by 2016 – an improvement of nearly 40 percent. Building cleaner cars will reduce lifetime greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles produced between 2012 and 2016 by over 655 million tons. By 2030, the 2012-2016 standards will reduce GHG emissions from the U.S. light-duty fleet by approximately 21 percent.
The shift toward cleaner cars also presents an opportunity for manufacturing centers in the Midwest, as carmakers develop more efficient technologies and better pollution controls. ELPC believes the Midwest should be a leader in capturing the jobs of the future, building new, cleaner cars that increase our energy independence and reduce pollution.
New standards for cars of the future are predicted to save as much as 11.6 billion gallons of gasoline per year by 2016 (equal to half the oil the U.S. imports from Saudi Arabia) and save consumers up to $31.8 billion annually at the pump.
More information:
ELPC’s report on the health and environmental benefits of clean car standards to Illinois: Breathing Free in Illinois
President Obama has announced new nationwide pollution reduction and fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. The new standards will largely track the clean car standards being advocated by the Environmental Law & Policy Center and considered by the Illinois General Assembly in HB422 and SB1941.
“President Obama is driving automakers to develop cleaner cars and innovative pollution reduction technologies that the public wants,” said Howard A. Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Illinois drivers will save more than $500 million per year by using 280 million gallons less of gasoline when these standards take hold.”
The new clean car standards will cut global warming pollution from passenger vehicles by 30 percent by 2016. The transportation sector is the second largest source of global warming pollution nationwide. Pollution from cars and trucks is also a leading cause of asthma and other public health problems.
The Environmental Law & Policy Center commends President Barack Obama’s directive to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the prior administration’s decision denying the waiver for 14 states that have enacted legislation to reduce the global warming pollution from cars.
“President Obama’s action will spur automakers to develop the cleaner cars and innovative pollution reduction technologies that that public wants,” said Howard A. Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “We appreciate President Obama’s actions to remove the prior administration’s roadblock to states moving forward. Illinois now has a green light to enact the clean car legislation that is currently being considered.”
The state’s proposed legislation would cut global warming pollution from passenger vehicles by 30 percent by 2016. The transportation sector is the second largest source of global warming pollution nationwide. Pollution from cars and trucks is also a leading cause of asthma and other public health problems.
Supporters of the Illinois Clean Cars Act turned out yesterday for a rally in downtown Chicago backing the bill. The Environmental Law & Policy Center is a key sponsor of Clean Cars Illinois, the grassroots campaign advocating for the legislation. House Bill 3424 would save $8.4 billion in the cost of gas, resulting in increased spending in Illinois and over 90,000 new jobs. The legislation would require the state to adopt the same clean-car standards in place in California, which would reduce emissions here. Fuel-efficient vehicles also would improve air quality and public health, including asthma and allergies. Learn more about the clean car legislation in Breathing Free in Illinois [pdf file] a report published recently by ELPC. Read more about the rally in coverage from the Chicago Tribune.
How will clean car legislation benefit Illinois? Listen to this interview with Joe Shacter, senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
Read ELPC’s report explaining the public health and the environmental benefits of bringing Clean Cars legislation to Illinois. Download the report here [pdf file].
ELPC and a coalition of environmental groups released a new statewide poll showing that a remarkable 89% of people surveyed said they support or strongly support the idea of paying $1,000 more for a new car at the time of purchase if they can recoup those costs in gas savings within two years. The poll comes just days before an expected crucial vote in the Illinois House of Representatives on House Bill 3424, which would require Illinois to adopt the Clean Car Standards already in effect in 14 other states nationwide. Read the press release.
EPA Hearings on Greenhouse Gas Standards for New Coal Plants
