ELPC has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator, the independent non-profit rating agency. This 4-star “exceptional” rating means that ELPC’s fiscal management “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.” Only 12% of non-profits have attained this rating for three consecutive years. Click here for more details.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
AIA Honors ELPC for Leadership on Green Building Code
ELPC was honored to receive the President’s Award from the American Institute of Architects Illinois for extraordinary achievements in advancing livable communities. ELPC’s Al Grosboll, left, and Melville Nickerson, right, accepted the award on behalf of ELPC at AIA Illinois’ annual conference from AIA Illinois President Tim McGinn, AIA.
In particular, the award recognizes ELPC’s years of leadership and advocacy to establish Energy Efficient Building Codes for residential and commercial buildings in Illinois.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
U.S. Green Building Council Names ELPC a “Natural Leader”
In recognition of ELPC’s leadership on Illinois’ Energy Efficient Building Code and the Chicago Climate Action Plan, the Chicago Chapter of the US Green Building Council honored ELPC as a Natural Leader. ELPC’s Howard Learner and Jill Geiger, pictured center, accepted the award on behalf of ELPC from USGBC-Chicago Chapter Executive Director Doug Widener, left, and Board Chair Joseph Clair, right.
The “Intent to Matter” award was presented to ELPC at the Emerald Gala, USGBC’s annual celebration of the sustainable building movement, on May 16, 2009.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
Chicago Magazine Names ELPC’s Learner a Green Leader
In recognition of his work to make the planet ‘greener and better,’ Chicago Magazine honored ELPC President Howard Learner with a ‘Green Award’.
The April issue of Chicago Magazine included a profile of Howard that highlights some of ELPC’s successes, including bringing renewable energy and energy efficiency standards to Illinois, reducing mercury pollution in Illinois waters and working to bring high-speed rail to the Midwest.
Learn about other awards and honors received by ELPC.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are next generation clean cars that use electric batteries charged from an external source. With smart strategies and the right locations, these vehicles present an exciting opportunity to reduce air pollution, save drivers up to $1,200 per year on gasoline and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Some plug-in vehicles already on the market, and almost every major auto manufacturer is working to develop their own plug-in models for the coming years. Car makers are developing a range of technologies, from all electric vehicles, to hybrids that combine batteries with a gasoline engine, to models with batteries that can be swapped out for charging.
Location Matters
Plug-in electric vehicles’ effect on reducing pollution and dependence on foreign oil varies according to when and how the electricity they use is generated.
The environmental benefits of plug-ins are smaller if they are charged with electricity from coal plants, and larger if the electricity is generated with no or low-carbon fuel sources like solar & nuclear power and particularly wind energy.
Analysis from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
In areas with substantial wind and nuclear power, surplus energy may be available at night to charge plug-in vehicles. Overall demand is lowest at night, and when strong wind power is often available and many nuclear plants “run negative,” meaning that the cost of generating the power exceeds the selling price. In these areas, strategies that encourage plug-in charging at night can make the difference in reducing pollution
ELPC’s Advocacy
ELPC is working to promote policies that will create a smart and strategic integration of plug-in vehicles, focusing on areas where low-cost, low-carbon electricity is available to make plug-ins part of the solution to global warming.
With low-carbon energy available from wind and nuclear power, especially at night, the charging scenario in Northern Illinois is optimal. ELPC is working to promote off-peak charging, solar public charging stations and other programs that will maximize the benefits of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
An off-peak vehicle charging rate would offer consumers a monetary incentive to charge up while electricity demand is low and coal plants are in the “off” position. On-site solar power could be used to power public vehicle charging stations, ensuring that the electricity that charges plug-ins comes from the sun, rather than highly polluting coal plants.
Plug-ins Create Clean Energy Opportunities
In the near future, with a large number of plug-ins on the road and a smart electrical grid, plug-in vehicle batteries could have a two-way charging relationship with the power grid. Vehicle batteries could store excess clean energy when it’s available. When electric demand peaks, utilities could pay to draw power from plugged-in vehicle batteries. This source of clean reserve power could make renewable energy more efficient and eliminate the need for new coal plants while offering financial benefits for both consumers and utilities.
Learn more about vehicle to grid opportunities here and here
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.
Restore the Clean Water Act - Protect Our Lakes and Streams! GO
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are next generation clean cars that use electric batteries charged from an external source. With smart strategies and the right locations, these vehicles present an exciting opportunity to reduce air pollution, save drivers up to $1,200 per year on gasoline and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
In the near future, with a large number of plug-ins on the road and a smart electrical grid, plug-in vehicle batteries could have a two-way charging relationship with the power grid. Vehicle batteries could store excess clean energy when it’s available. When electric demand peaks, utilities could pay to draw power from plugged-in vehicle batteries. This source of clean reserve power could make renewable energy more efficient and eliminate the need for new coal plants while offering financial benefits for both consumers and utilities.
