This year's ELPC Benefit will be Nov. 14th in downtown Chicago. Read details here!
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.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
On Thursday April 7, Dan Radomski, Principal at Kinetik Partners, joined ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner and Environmental Business Specialist Ashley Craig to discuss the impact of the solar and wind industry in Michigan and what is needed to continue the growth in jobs, economic development and clean energy.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
STATEMENT OF HOWARD A. LEARNER, Executive Director
Environmental Law & Policy Center
“Americans do believe that environmental progress can be achieved together with job creation and economic growth. President Obama’s address identified Midwestern clean energy and high-speed rail development projects where this is already happening.
Hundreds of old-line Rust Belt manufacturers are retooling to produce equipment for the growing clean energy economy, as shown by the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s recent reports. Federal investments in renewable energy are spurring job growth and revitalizing the Midwest manufacturing sector. The Michigan solar company highlighted in the President’s speech is a good example. After decades of decline, America’s clean energy industry is creating new manufacturing jobs and making us more globally competitive.
We can’t build a 21st century economy with a 19th century transportation infrastructure. In Illinois and Michigan, federal investments in high-speed rail are creating construction and supply chain jobs today that will improve and expand transportation options tomorrow. Modern, fast, comfortable and convenient rail development will improve mobility, reduce pollution, create new jobs and spur economic growth.
The President’s clean energy and high-speed rail proposals are investments in America’s future. Here, in the Midwest Heartland, let’s seize these opportunities to strengthen our economy, create jobs and improve our environment in ways that make good sense and make our nation more competitive.”
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Wednesday, January 5, 2011
New ELPC Study Finds over 150 Ohio Companies Working in Wind and Solar Power Industry
Columbus – The Environmental Law & Policy Center has released a new study of Ohio’s wind and solar energy supply chain. The study finds that 106 Ohio companies are doing business with the wind power industry and 63 Ohio companies are part of the solar energy supply chain.
Ohio’s strong manufacturing base and skilled workforce, together with supportive policies and smart investments have helped make Ohio a center for clean energy manufacturing. From major companies like First Solar and Cardinal Fastener to over 100 small manufacturers, developers and service firms; clean energy means business for Ohio.
“Wind and solar power has created thousands of good jobs across Ohio,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Longstanding manufacturing companies are retooling to supply the growing clean energy market and new businesses are expanding. Smart policies can continue that growth.”
The report finds that wind industry suppliers employ over 7,500 people in Ohio and, according to the Ohio Department of Development, solar manufacturing has created over 1,500 jobs statewide.
“Ohio has worked hard to develop a climate conducive to advanced energy suppliers. Ohio-based companies are providing components and products for the energy sector worldwide,” said Scott Miller, Director of Energy and Environmental Program’s at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. “As the global need for affordable clean energy increases, this state is poised to take advantage of new technologies and the business and job growth that will come with it.”
The report profiles Ohio businesses that see clean energy as a key part of the state’s economic future. These businesses are looking forward to sound policies that will support the domestic market for clean energy, creating more jobs and economic growth for Ohio.
“The Report comes at a critical time for the future or renewables in Ohio,” said Carrie Cullen Hitt of the Solar Alliance. “Many companies are exploring investment opportunities and this demonstrates that Ohio offers a hospitable environment for growing businesses. As described in the Report, Maintaining and expanding supportive policies in the future is key.”
The report notes that strong regulatory and tax policies are key to growing any industry, and the wind industry is no exception. The proposed strong federal renewable energy standard would help grow the local economy by increasing Ohio’s export opportunities for both wind power and manufactured wind turbine components and professional services.
To download a copy of the report, visit www.elpc.org/OhioEnergy.
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Environmental Law and Policy Center’s new study on the Iowa Wind Energy Supply Chain catalogs the boon of the wind energy industry for the state of Iowa, the Quad-City Times reports. Eighty Iowa companies, including thirty manufacturers, employ more than 2300 workers in this growing sector. The Quad-Cities alone are host to eight of these.
Iowa ranks first in the nation for the percentage of its electricity generated by wind (20%) and second nationally in total wind energy generation. This success is credited to the forward-thinking policies enacted in the state, including tax credits to retain and develop business and the Iowa Power Fund to encourage wind energy research and development.
Tara Barney, CEO of the Quad-Cities Chamber of Commerce, cited Iowa’s “world-class transportation systems and educated, skilled work force” as some of the forces bringing wind business to the state. “With appropriate policies in place, there will be tremendous opportunity for expansion of the wind industry in Iowa,” she added.
Continued policy support will prove key to enabling the wind industry’s future growth in Iowa. Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center and co-author of the report, notes, “Iowa has done a very good job of targeting the wind energy industry, and that’s paid off in terms of growth. Smart policies can bring more wind businesses to Iowa. That’s good for both economic growth and better environmental quality.”
Read the full Quad-City Times story here.
Friday, December 3, 2010
On December 15th, the Environmental Law & Policy Center and USDA Rural Development hosted a briefing about REAP, the Rural Energy for America Program. Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects can reduce energy costs and generate new income for farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners. USDA’s REAP program provides grants and loan guarantees nationwide. Some use REAP incentives to upgrade to more efficient ventilation, pumps, coolers, insulation, or heating and cooling systems. Others now generate their own energy with solar panels, wind turbines, biogas or biofuels.
Hundreds of farmers, ranchers and businesses are making greater profits and slashing energy costs with REAP. Mindi Grieve of the Environmental Law & Policy Center and Dennis Rodin of USDA’s Office of Rural Development explained the program and answer your questions.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Des Moines – The Environmental Law and Policy Center has released a new study of Iowa’s wind energy supply chain. According to the study, Iowa’s wind power supply chain comprises 80 Iowa companies with a total of over 2,300 employees in manufacturing alone. The state ranks second nationally in total wind energy generation. With local manufacturers building everything from huge turbine blades to small electrical components, and service firms providing maintenance, legal, marketing and other support to the industry, wind power means business for Iowa.
“Wind energy creates good jobs and business growth across Iowa and across different sectors,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Smart policies can bring more wind businesses to Iowa – that’s good for both economic growth and better environmental quality.”
The report states that a commitment to business development combined with tax incentives, a skilled workforce and a central location have helped make Iowa a leader in the wind industry.
The report highlights supply chain companies across the state, from locally owned small businesses to seven international manufacturing companies. In addition to the 80 existing supply chain companies, the study identified more than 30 additional Iowa companies that could supply the wind industry if demand increased.
The report notes that strong regulatory and tax policies are key to growing any industry, and the wind industry is no exception. The proposed strong federal renewable energy standard would help grow Iowa’s economy by increasing Iowa’s export opportunities for both wind power and manufactured wind turbine components and professional services.
To download a copy of the report, visit www.elpc.org/iowawind.
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Environmental Law and Policy Center has released a new study of Illinois’ wind energy supply chain showing more than 100 Illinois companies with a total of over 15,000 employees. From old-line manufacturers who are retooling to build wind turbine components for the new clean energy economy to corporate headquarters for major wind power developers, to software, financial and support services, the wind industry means real business for Illinois.
Download the full report The Wind Energy Supply Chain in Illinois.
See the full press release about the report.
Listen to a podcast about the report, featuring ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jerry Roper.
Read the Chicago Public Radio coverage of the report.
Monday, November 1, 2010
A National Renewable Electricity Standard would ramp up the development of homegrown clean energy nationwide, which will reduce pollution, improve national security and energy independence and create economic development – especially in places like South Dakota, where huge wind energy resources can create new jobs and revenue for rural areas.
It’s an idea that is receiving bipartisan support in the wake of the political battle over cap and trade legislation. As ELPC Policy Advocate Matt Mclarty told the Argus Leader, “There are not many Republicans or Democrats out there that don’t want to see America move toward a more sustainable, homegrown source of energy.”
South Dakota’s wind energy industry has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in the state and create a substantial new source of income.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Iowa has the second largest wind power capacity in the nation. Future growth in Iowa’s wind industry depends in large part on creating transmission lines that can carry power from Iowa’s wind farms to more densely populated areas in the Eastern U.S.
New transmission lines could expand the market for the vast wind resources in the Midwest, but getting transmission in place will require cooperation between many different states, utilities and industries. As ELPC Senior Attorney John Moore told the Des Moines Register, “The easy stuff has already been done on wind. Now come the more difficult details.” ELPC is working to continue the growth of clean energy in the Midwest.
Monday, September 20, 2010
State Line Power Plant Reported to be Major Polluter of Chicago
The Chicago Tribune reported on Sunday, September 19th about one of the nation’s dirtiest coal plants that sits just across the state line from Chicago: State Line Power Station. As ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner comments in the piece, “It’s a highly polluting plant that has existed for years in a sort of never-never land.” The article points out that the power plant is starting to get noticed as a push is on to force the plant to clean up.
Read the full article.
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