The facts are pretty clear. If not addressed immediately, global warming is going to have serious consequences for how Americans, including those in the Midwest, live and work.  International leaders will attempt to forge a strong global treaty in December to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol that would cut greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.  At the federal level, the Senate is set to debate a climate bill that, while imperfect, could bolster the nation's emerging clean energy economy and limit our carbon footprint. But what about Illinois? As a state, how prepared are we to safeguard our environment?

Compared to other states, we're about average. So says the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), which ranked Illinois 26th overall (tied with North Carolina) in its third-annual state efficiency scorecard.

First, let's start with what we do well. ACEEE approved of the state's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, which stipulates that 25 percent of the electricity sold by 2025 must be generated by renewable energy sources. (The General Assembly approved of the measure in 2007 and buffeted it with similar restrictions on natural gas companies this spring.) Our climate mitigation targets, set in conjunction with the establishment of the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group three years ago, are relatively robust. The state has promised to cut emissions  to 1990 levels by 2020 and 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Lawmakers have developed clear incentives for the development of energy-efficient affordable housing and public sector building construction and set aside rebates for low-income households inpacted by any utility cost increases. Finally, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has taken steps to make smaller, more efficient energy producers viable. (State laws, influenced by large utilities, often restrict  small generators from connecting to the energy grid.)

Where we struggle won't surprise anyone who has paid attention to environmental policy in Illinois over the past several years. First, we get low marks on our transportation infrastructure, which is outdated, too small, and poorly funded. Our vehicle policies also score poorly, no doubt the result of multiple failed attempts to raise tailpipe-emission standards.

Encouragingly, there are a very areas ACEEE identifies as weaknesses upon which Illinois could quickly improve. The first is related to strengthened building codes. The report overlooks Rep. Julie Hamos' (D-Wilmette) Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act (HB3987), which was signed by Gov. Pat Quinn and requires the state's Capital Development Board to adopt the most recent version of the International Energy Conservation Code for all new residential and commercial buildings within nine months. Illinois is also conducting a truly important natural gas decoupling experiment. Decoupling, first implemented in California, is a policy whereby utilities are guaranteed a fixed revenue each year (as determined by the ICC) and can increase profits only by cutting costs or selling less power. This provides an incentive for both utility companies and consumers to cut down the amount of energy that is consumed. (For a good backgrounder, read this piece by Brad Plumer in The New Republic.) Early last year, People's Gas won approval to conduct a four-year pilot program. If it proves successful, which some have legitimately questioned, it could be easily scaled.

To see how other states stack up, the Wall Street Journal has produced a nifty map available here. What's clear is that we still have a lot of work to do.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user AGrinberg.