Clean Energy & Clean Air

Growing Wind Power, Accelerating Solar Power and Improving Energy Efficiency. ELPC’s leadership to create, enact and implement renewable energy and energy efficiency standards is achieving major results. Iowa and Illinois are now 2nd and 7th nationally for installed wind energy as more than 6,000 megawatts of wind power operates across the Midwest. Solar development is accelerating as Illinois’, Michigan’s and Ohio’s programs take flight. Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio all met their energy efficiency goals in 2010 and 2011 as the programs are injecting $1 billion for efficiency improvement investments, producing energy bill savings for consumers and avoiding harmful pollution from power plants. Efficiency is flattening out electricity demand while renewables generate cleaner power for the Midwest’s environment and economy. Learn more about ELPC’s work on wind power, solar power and energy efficiency.

Growing the Clean Energy Economy: 1,000 Supply Chain Businesses and 50,000+ Jobs in Five Midwest States. ELPC is telling the clean energy economic growth stories in powerful on-the-ground ways that persuade policymakers, business leaders and civic influentials. ELPC’s Wind/Solar Supply Chain Business reports for Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin identify the manufacturing, technical, installation and professional services businesses and jobs in each state. Old-line Rust Belt manufacturers are retooling to produce new equipment for the growing renewable energy industry, and there are now 15 wind energy corporate headquarters in Chicago alone. ELPC partnerships with Chambers of Commerce and labor groups are advancing strategic policy solutions that drive economic growth and job creation in the Midwest. Learn more about ELPC’s Supply Chain Reports.

Advancing Solar Energy Policies to Drive the Market and New Installations. Solar energy is a fast-growing economic sector, and ELPC is leading the charge to make the Midwest a solar development center. Creative policy advocacy is driving the market expansion, developing new financing approaches to make solar work in more places and supporting new large-scale solar “brightfields.” ELPC advocacy achieved Illinois’ solar “carve out” in the state’s Renewable Energy Standard that will produce 650 megawatts of installed solar by 2015, and we are removing barriers to distributed solar generation for households and small businesses. ELPC helped lead Michigan to re-launch incentives supporting distributed solar projects, and we’re advancing policy improvements in Ohio’s solar programs. ELPC and Iowa start-up solar businesses are working to advance supportive policies for more rooftop installations, as solar accelerates across the region. Learn more about ELPC’s solar power work.

Cleaning Up and Shutting Down Highly Polluting Coal Plants. ELPC’s advocacy protects clean air, reduces mercury and global warming pollution, and saves communities millions of dollars in health and environmental costs. ELPC’s and partners’ legal pressure and economic analysis has led to the shutdown of six old highly-polluting coal plants in Illinois and the nearby old State Line coal plant on the Lake Michigan shoreline, while others now invest in and install modern pollution control equipment. ELPC attorneys represent local groups holding off proposed new old-technology plants in Michigan and Kentucky. ELPC is a leader in the Chicago Clean Power Coalition creating pressure to either clean up or shut down the old Fisk and Crawford coal plants that cause 41 premature deaths and 2,800 asthma attacks annually. Learn more about ELPC’s work to clean up or shut down coal plants.

Clean Transportation

Breaking Ground on the Midwest High-Speed Rail Network. This train is moving! ELPC’s long-term advocacy for modern, fast, comfortable and convenient Midwest rail has moved from vision to reality: Thousands of workers are setting new tracks and signals on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor, and Michigan has acquired almost all of the track for 110 mph service on the Chicago-Detroit corridor. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $733 million to a consortium of states — Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and California — to jointly procure modern new locomotives and railcars that will improve the train passengers’ experience and boost Midwest rail equipment manufacturing jobs and businesses. High-speed rail development will improve mobility, reduce pollution, create jobs and spur economic growth. Let’s go! Learn more about ELPC’s work to advance high-speed rail.

Clean Water & Natural Resources Protection

Cleaning Up the Chicago River. Turning point! Victory! ELPC’s persistent and effective legal and policy advocacy with our clients Friends of the Chicago River and Sierra Club and additional partners to clean up the Chicago River achieved a stunning victory: Chicago will soon disinfect the 1.2 billion gallons of wastewater that are dumped into the River each day. Future generations will look back on 2011 as when Chicagoans finally moved forward to make their namesake river safer and cleaner. The Chicago River will be healthier, ultimately “fishable and swimmable” and a better community and economic asset for all of us to enjoy. Learn more about ELPC’s work to protect clean rivers and lakes.

Preserving Michigan’s Saugatuck Dunes. ELPC attorneys representing the Saugatuck Dune Coastal Alliance and other local conservation and civic leaders achieved a huge legal victory in Federal District Court for the Western District of Michigan, which held that a proposed consent decree between the developer and under-duress local officials was illegal and fundamentally flawed. This court decision shifts the momentum to help preserve a pristine assembly of beaches, freshwater dunes, water, woods and wetlands along the Lake Michigan coast. The proposed massive development project would harm the Saugatuck Coastal Dunes Area, which the National Trust for Historic Preservation identified as among the 11 most endangered places in the country. ELPC is protecting both the vital dunes conservation area and the local community’s authority to make better land use and planning decisions for the future. Learn more about ELPC’s work to protect the Saugatuck Dunes.

Expanding E-Waste Recycling Opportunities. ELPC crafted and successfully advocated for Illinois’ improved recycling law, which diverts electronic waste with toxic components from landfills where the chemicals can leach and contaminate groundwater used for community drinking water supplies. The state’s annual recycling goal is doubled, creating jobs and spurring recycling businesses, and making more e-waste recycling available to the public. Learn more about ELPC’s work to advance e-waste recycling opportunities.

Protecting Water Quality in Iowa and Wisconsin. ELPC achieved important Clean Water Act phosphorus reduction and anti-degradation standards, which are now under attack. ELPC’s and local partners’ advocacy helped stop Wisconsin politicians from repealing the phosphorus pollution standard for Wisconsin rivers and held off Iowa naysayers challenging the anti-degradation standards designed to “keep clean water clean” and help clean up the Mississippi River basin. Learn more about ELPC’s work to protect clean rivers and lakes.

Honoring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

ELPC honored U.S. Senator Dick Durbin for his long-term effective leadership. At ELPC’s October 10th dinner event, Senator Durbin discussed opportunities to achieve economic growth and job creation together with better environmental protection. Experience part of the event online with excerpts from Senator Durbin’s speech, videos and more.

ELPC’s Chicago Office Receives LEED Platinum Rating

ELPC’s office was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest green certification. Our new eco-office puts ELPC’s values into practice, creates a workspace that improves the environment, makes good economic sense, is healthier for our staff and can be replicated by downtown businesses. Learn more about ELPC’s LEED Platinum eco-office.

From ELPC Executive Director Howard A. Learner

ELPC has achieved remarkable results on our core vision and mission: achieving environmental progress, job creation and economic development together. During this time of extreme political partisanship and economic challenges, we are producing successes on improving environmental quality and preserving natural resources with solutions-focused strategies.

Cleaning Up the Chicago River – A Turning Point! For years, Chicagoans have tolerated our namesake river being unsafe and unhealthy for recreation and enjoyment. Chicago is one of very few major cities in which wastewater is not disinfected prior to discharge into the river. ELPC’s and our colleagues’ persistent and effective advocacy over the past six years succeeded in 2011. Modern pollution control equipment will now be installed to disinfect Chicago’s wastewater. Twenty years from now, Chicagoans enjoying the Chicago River in their communities will look back, shake their heads and ask why it took so long to clean up our river. 2011 will be seen as the turning point. We are very proud of this breakthrough.

Cleaner Air and More Clean Energy. ELPC’s Repowering the Midwest and Job Jolt studies in 2000 and 2001 presented a visionary clean energy development plan for our region. We are now achieving this transformation. More than 6,000 megawatts of wind power are running, solar is coming and energy efficiency is flattening out demand while old highly-polluting coal plants are either installing modern pollution control equipment or shutting down. The growing clean energy economy is “jolting” new job creation, and old-line manufacturers are retooling to make new wind and solar energy equipment. ELPC is leading the policy charge for this transformative change to a cleaner energy economy.

Midwest High-Speed Rail – From Vision to Reality. Thousands of construction workers are now working to upgrade the Chicago-St. Louis and Chicago-Detroit corridors to provide modern rail service that can improve mobility for businesses and families, reduce pollution, create new jobs and pull the regional economy together. ELPC, the Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO are on the same page, working together to get new fast trains running soon.
Protecting the Saugatuck Dunes Conservation Area. ELPC attorneys’ representation of the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance led to a Federal District Court legal victory that is heading off, for now, a damaging large-scale development in this special natural area. This litigation success exemplifies the importance and effectiveness of ELPC’s public interest lawyering and opens the door to better solutions that protect vital lands.

Together with ELPC’s Board and Staff, I’m proud of our 2011 accomplishments. We all look forward to seizing more strategic opportunities for environmental solutions and progress.

ELPC’s Staff & Board Thank You for Your Interest & Support!

Read an article in the Chicago Sun-Times: Alternative energy companies grow jobs, presence in Chicago area

Read an article in the Chicago Tribune: New study defines, identifies green jobs in U.S.

Read the editorial published in Crain’s Chicago Business.

All speakers agreed that tapping South Dakota’s renewable energy potential would benefit the state’s economy and help to address the growing threat of climate change. Mr. Grosboll said that the American Clean Energy and Security Act would be an effective way to reduce carbon pollution and would create over one million clean energy jobs across the country and in South Dakota.

Read coverage in the Rapid City Journal

Several of the groups submitted analyses that showed how Iowa will benefit from clean energy legislation through job growth and income in manufacturing, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Others showed that the moderate costs of the bill are miniscule compared to the threat of global climate change.

As ELPC Senior Attorney Rob Kelter said, “There is so much more at stake here than minor changes in electric rates. Clean energy can be a major driver of economic growth in Iowa, but we have to stand up to the utilities to make it happen.”

Read more at Iowapolitics.com

ELPC has worked with citizen groups to oppose the new plants because they would be unnecessary, expensive and would create huge amounts of pollution that contributes to global warming and threatens human health.

 As ELPC Senior Attorney Faith Bugel told the Detroit News, “This report shows that clean energy can power Michigan’s future. Moving away from outdated coal power will build our economy and protect our environment.”

Last year, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm ordered the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to examine whether the state’s energy needs could be met by renewable sources and energy efficiency before granting Clean Air Act permits for any new coal plants. A final decision on whether to grant Clean Air Act permits to Wolverine and Consumers Energy rests with the state Department of Environmental Quality, which promises a ruling by the end of this year.

Read Coverage in the Detroit News