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Quick Hit
by Angela Caputo
12:01pm
Wed Mar 24, 2010
1 comment

Some Green News Out Of Springfield

This week, there is some good -- and green -- news trickling out of Springfield. In the race to move legislation forward, lawmakers appear to be making progress on a series of bills aimed at promoting both renewable resources and energy efficiency. One proposal that we've been keeping our eye on is State Rep. Fred Crespo's (D-Streamwood) HB 6419, which would give school districts authority set up a cooperative wind farm and sell their excess power to utility companies for a profit. A House committee is poised today to advance the measure to the floor for a vote.

Speaking of renewable resources, a proposal to make harvesting rainwater for non-potable uses like flushing toilets has sailed through the House and is now being entertained by the Senate. Also, Sen. Don Harmon's (D-Oak Park) efforts to require utilities to incorporate more solar energy into their portfolios managed to survive some recent shenanigans on the Senate Energy Committee. The deadline for SB3686 has been extended until April 15. Stay tuned.

Quick Hit
by Angela Caputo
2:16pm
Mon Mar 22, 2010

Tire Burning As Renewable Energy?

State Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park) summed it up best, calling a statehouse proposal to include toxic tire burning in Illinois' definition of renewable energy a head scratcher. But as the Tribune reported yesterday, that's exactly what her colleague Rep. David Miller (D-Dolton) is attempting to do. The Democratic Comptroller nominee introduced a bill (HB 1470) this session that would clear the way for the operator of a pollution-heavy incinerator in an impoverished corner of his district to pull in green energy credits.

After some intense lobbying from environmental groups, Miller has taken his name off the bill. Still, the legislation cleared a House committee last week. "This is the sort of cynical legislative maneuvering that makes people question the credibility of our elected officials," Howard Learner, president of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, told the Tribune. "Burning tires is not clean, renewable energy by any credible definition." That's a point that will be hard for any lawmaker to argue against. 

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
10:14am
Mon Mar 8, 2010

Shenanigans On The Senate Energy Committee?

Green Energy

Did State Sen. James Clayborne Jr. (D-East St. Louis) and Senate Energy Committee Chairman Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) try to pull the old bait-and-switch on environmental advocates last week?

PI Original
by Adam Doster
10:37am
Thu Feb 11, 2010
2 comments

Illinois Enviros Unveil 2011 Legislative Agenda

Environment

With Congress unlikely to pass a comprehensive energy bill anytime soon, more and more states will take the lead on approving legislation that curbs emissions, offers incentives for renewable energy producers, and creates green jobs. Those are the priorities this upcoming session of the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC), an umbrella organization for some of the Prairie State's leading environmentalists.

PI Original
by Adam Doster
12:02pm
Thu Feb 4, 2010
7 comments

The Future Of FutureGen

Energy

With all the publicity it has generated over the years, it almost seems impossible that officials in Washington still have not approved the "clean coal" plant known as FutureGen. This month, however, the waiting games ends. We check in with some environmental advocates to get their thoughts on the potential project.

Quick Hit
by Josh Kalven
10:04am
Tue Jan 26, 2010

How Close Is Too Close?

Like Wisconsin, Michigan is considering whether to allow the construction of offshore wind farms on its portion of Lake Michigan.  As the Muskegon News reports, the debate has now turned to the proximity of the turbines.  The closer they are to shore, the more of an eyesore they become.  But as you move them farther away, the cost magnifies.  How soon until we're having a similar debate here in Illinois?