Explore our content

All types | All dates | All authors
Green jobs
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:58pm
Wed Jun 5

Illinois Ranked A National Leader In Clean Technology Deployment

Illinois is “leading the charge” for clean technology deployment in the country, according to a new report from Clean Edge, a research and advisory firm dedicated to energy efficient and environmentally friendly industries, policies and applications.

The firm’s inaugural U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index report, released Tuesday, ranked Illinois’ clean-tech marketplace as 8th in the nation for strong policies that reduce the state’s environmental footprint.

“The clean-tech sector is the critical industry for economic leadership and economic development in the 21st century,” said Clint Wilder, senior editor of Clean Edge and co-author of the report. “If you want to plan for the future at all, it’s important to establish leadership and establish your state as one of the clean-tech hubs in the U.S., and I think Illinois has done a very good job of that.”

Read more »

PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
8:11pm
Tue May 28

Long-Term Unemployed Face Continued Economic Challenges

Unemployment

Although the U.S. labor market has seen some improvement, it is not enough to significantly help the long-term unemployed and individuals who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, say economists and labor experts. We take a closer look at this issue in part one of our latest look at the nation's unemployment crisis. Check back with Progress Illinois later this week for a look at how the sequester cuts have only added to the woes of the long-term unemployed.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
7:15pm
Thu Mar 7

Illinois Is National Leader In Green Initiatives, Jobs

Environmental policies in Illinois have pushed the state to be one of the best ranked in the nation for green initiatives. Most recently, Illinois ranked fourth in the nation for clean energy and clean transportation jobs in 2012 by a report issued yesterday from Environmental Entrepreneurs.

Read more »

PI Original
by Steven Ross Johnson
1:12pm
Tue Sep 18, 2012
1 comment

Lobbying For Wind Energy Tax Credit Intensifies As Expiration Nears

U.S. Congress

Supporters of wind energy are predicting that what happens in Congress over the next several days could be crucial to the fate of the industry, warning that more than 37,000 jobs could be in jeopardy if lawmakers fail to extend a vital tax credit for renewable power producers. Meanwhile, supporters and opponents of the tax credit are intensifying their calls for the credit's extension or demise. 

PI Original
by Brandon Campbell
11:43am
Fri Jul 20, 2012
3 comments

South Siders Divided On Leucadia Power Plant (VIDEO)

Environment

Plans for a new power plant to be built on the city’s Southeast Side have area residents divided on two key issues. Put simply, the argument comes down to employment versus environment.

Quick Hit
by Progress Illinois
11:20am
Fri Jul 20, 2012

Op-Ed: Illinois Wind Job Creation Up To 20,000 and Counting – Will Congress Blow It Away?

The following is written by Jack Darin, director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter.

This week wind industry leaders and advocates gathered in Normal, Illinois to discuss the progress we’re making in harnessing the power of the wind in the Prairie State.

A highlight of the gathering was a the release of a new report documenting the economic impact wind is making in Illinois, and the numbers are striking.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
6:04pm
Tue Apr 24, 2012
4 comments

Shedding Light On The Potential Of Green Jobs (VIDEO)

Green jobs and the clean energy sector have gotten a bad rap due to Republican rhetoric in Washington, according to the Center for American Progress. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has repeatedly bashed green jobs, even calling them "illusory" in one op-ed. He is also in favor of ending the renewable energy production credit, a move that could put at least 37,000 jobs in jeopardy, including those in Illinois. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has said he'd like to create 5 million jobs in the green sector and allocated $80 million to the industry in the stimulus package.

The Center for American Progress went to the state where Romney was formerly governor to see just how real the more than 65,000 clean energy jobs are that have been created in Massachusetts. Read more »