Monday, January 9, 2012
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.
Monday, December 19, 2011
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.
Read more.
Friday, December 16, 2011
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.
Read more.
Friday, November 18, 2011
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
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Indianapolis Star reported on one of the lead stories on ELPC’s new project, IN Our Water, with their coverage of phosphorus pollution and algae blooms in the Geist Reservoir. The Geist Reservoir provides drinking water to Indianapolis and is a popular place for boating and recreation, but the reservoir is fouled each summer with algae blooms and toxic bacteria created by excessive phosphorus pollution.
Read ELPC’s story on the Geist Reservoir here
Read coverage in the Indy Star here
Take Action: Help Protect Indiana Waterways from Dangerous Algae Blooms
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Public and nonprofit groups don’t pay taxes, so they can’t take advantage of tax incentives that make solar projects more affordable. The get around this problem, solar developers can retain ownership of a solar system they install on a client’s building. The developer collects the tax credits and the client agrees to pay the developer for the power generated by the solar panels. This arrangement has worked well in many states. But in Iowa, Alliant Energy blocked the City of Dubuque from entering into a similar agreement, stating that only a public utility can sell power in Iowa.
ELPC believes that Iowa law allows this kind of power purchase agreement, and is working with the utilities and state authorities to ensure that future projects aren’t held up by unclear regulations.
Read more in Midwest Energy News.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
ELPC released a new study of the clean energy supply chain in Illinois. The study finds that over 300 Illinois companies are working in the wind, solar or geothermal energy industries and employing over 18,000 people in the state. From old-line steel fabricators to high-tech start-ups, renewable energy is powering job growth and launching Illinois to the forefront of the green economy. Download the Report.
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.
Monday, June 20, 2011
In this Earth911.com article, ELPC Staff Attorney and Government Relations Specialist Mel Nickerson discusses why Illinois’ new legislation – expected to be signed into law soon by Governor Pat Quinn – is one of the best in the country. Read more about ELPC’s work to advance e-waste standards in the Midwest.
