Environmental Law & Policy Center » Media Center News Clips

CBS Chicago: Environmental Groups: Close Sanitary And Ship Canal To Stop Asian Carp

Kcoleman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:50:27 +0000

“Separating the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River Basin is a key step to protect both the ecological and economic value of the Great Lakes,” Environmental Law and Policy Center director Howard Learner said in a news release. “More than 30 million people live in the Great Lakes Basin and rely on its abundance of freshwater, which is under increasing threat from Asian carp and other invasive species.”

Illinois Gets Charged-Up for Electric Cars

Kcoleman — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:16:20 +0000

This Public News Service article quotes ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner and discusses ELPC’s new affiliate website, PlugInChicagoMetro.org.

Milwaukee J-S: Groups oppose rush toward northern Wisconsin power lines

Kcoleman — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:56:42 +0000

ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: “Consumers should not be asked to pay for $1 billion of new transmission lines running through Wisconsin’s North Woods, without a full and fair review of alternatives that might save money and prevent the disruption of key habitats and natural areas.” Read the article.

Chicago Tribune: Coal plants dominate list of Chicago’s biggest polluters

Kcoleman — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:53:21 +0000

According to this Jan. 22nd article in the Chicago Tribune: “Illinois’ largest single corporate polluter is Midwest Generation, the company that owns the Crawford and Fisk coal plants in Chicago and four more in the suburbs of Joliet, Romeoville and Waukegan and in Pekin in central Illinois. Burning coal from Wyoming and other Western states, the plants emitted more than 31 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2010, an amount equivalent to the tailpipe emissions of about 6 million cars.” Read the article.

ELPC Ranked in Top 10 Highest-Rated Charities in U.S.

Kcoleman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:52:30 +0000

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.

“Chicago Tonight” Talks with ELPC’s Mel Nickerson About Illinois’ New E-Waste Recycling Law

Kcoleman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:47:35 +0000

Indianapolis Star: Is Bear Run coal mine putting Hoosiers at risk?

Kcoleman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:30:55 +0000

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.

Bloomberg: EPA Final Rule for Coal Plants Deemed ‘Unfortunate’ by Industry

Kcoleman — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:25:14 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s rule to curb toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants drew criticism from an industry lobbyist and praise from an environmentalist even before it is released this week.

The regulation, the most-expensive order aimed at companies being considered by President Barack Obama’s administration, was signed by the agency Dec. 16 and is set to be published as early as today or tomorrow. Industry groups had urged the EPA to give companies an additional year to comply.

Bloomberg: Utilities in Power Squeeze as States Tie Mergers to Clean Energy

Kcoleman — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:22:06 +0000

The surging pace of power-industry consolidation, with more than $31 billion in transactions pending in the U.S., is giving state officials such as Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley leverage to wrest more clean-energy investments from merging companies.

Exelon Corp. (EXC) said yesterday it will invest $1 billion in Maryland, almost doubling its previous offer, to gain O’Malley’s support for the company’s $8.05 billion takeover of Baltimore- based Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG) Chicago-based Exelon agreed to develop as much as 180 megawatts of new electric generation from wind, solar and poultry litter, more than seven times its initial pledge of a 25-megawatt project.

Chicago Tribune: State Line Coal Plant to Retire in 2012

Kcoleman — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:39:53 +0000

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