Report Shows Billion-Dollar Benefit in Clean Cars Legislation
If lawmakers pass the Illinois Clean Cars Act currently under debate in Springfield, the state’s drivers will see fuel cost savings of approximately $1.24 billion annually above and beyond savings from the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, according to a new report by Environment Illinois that was released at a press conference April 14. The federal CAFE program raises the average miles per gallon for the nation’s car fleet to 35 by 2020, while the Illinois Clean Cars Act...
Illinois House Passes Bill for Mercury Thermostat Collection
House Bill 5348, sponsored by Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, passed the House unanimously today. The bill creates a program to collect and recycle mercury containing thermostats. Last year Illinois banned the sale of new mercury thermostats, and this bills addresses the problem of thermostats that are currently installed in homes and other buildings.
Each mercury thermostat contains as much as 3 grams of mercury, enough to contaminate a 60 acre lake and all of its fish. The Illinois EPA estimates...
The House Public Utilities Committee on Wednesday night endorsed a push to remove a standing moratorium on permitting a new nuclear plant until such time as the federal government has created a long-term solution to deal with the problem of radioactive waste disposal.
The Committee voted 10-2 in support of HB 2971, with only Reps. Al Riley and Monique Davis voting against the bill. This was another instance of a major substantive bill being unveiled with little notice. IEC learned...
A bill passed the Senate on Thursday that would give the Governor virtually unfettered authority to transfer money out of dedicated funds. This power could be used to transfer money out of dedicated funds such as Partners for Conservation, NAAF and OSLAD. The language showed up on Wednesday as an amendment to HB 473 that was approved by the Senate Executive Committee on a party line vote. At this point in the session amendments can be heard in committee with only a one hour notice, but...
In a show of force not seen in years, about 150 citizen lobbyists converged on the state’s capitol April 2 to speak to their legislators face-to-face about global warming and other environmental concerns. Organized by the IEC and member groups including Faith in Place, Sierra Club and Environment Illinois, Environment Day at the Capitol revived an old tradition and was a huge success.
Upon arriving in Springfield, the volunteers were trained in the basics of lobbying and then split up...
New Coalition Says Illinois CAN Reduce Global Warming
Cleaner Cars Will Pave the Way
The Illinois Climate Action Network -- Illinois CAN -- a new broad-based coalition of environmental, conservation and faith organizations aimed at combating global warming, debuted April 1 with a Springfield press conference calling for clean cars legislation.
The Illinois Clean Cars Act (HB 3424 / SB 2238) would significantly benefit both the environment and the health of the state’s residents. Modeled after California’s Pavley Law and similar laws in a dozen other states, the Act sets...
Local Residents and IEC Stop Mega-Dairy in Jo Daviess County…For Now
The IEC has been working with H.O.M.E.S., a local citizens’ group to oppose a large-scale dairy proposed by A. J. Bos, a businessman with similar operations in Oregon and California. Earlier this year, Bos applied for a permit to construct a mega-farm with 13,000-head of dairy cows just a few miles from the Apple River Canyon State Park. It would be the largest such confinement farm operation ever proposed in Illinois and one sited in one of the most pristine areas of the state. Current...
Illinois Environmental Council Announces 2008 Priority Issues and Honors Legislators with Top Voting Records in 2007
The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) outlined a policy agenda for tackling five critical environmental issues, including a new focus on global warming, and took stock of...
Open Lands and Natural Areas Take a Hit in Proposed FY2009 Budget
Contrary to his claim of an across-the-board, three percent cut for all departments in his proposed budget for FY2009, Gov. Rod Blagojevich actually asked for a much greater and disproportionate reduction in funding for the Department of Natural Resources. If approved, the Governor’s budget will severely compromise our ability to protect open space and natural areas in Illinois. It includes:
- A 38 percent cut in the General Revenue Fund (GRF) appropriation for the DNR, from $65 million to...
Lapsed State Pest Control Law Puts Children At Risk
The Illinois Environmental Council and a coalition of environmental, children’s health, and industry groups are calling on the Illinois General Assembly to protect public health and safety by quickly re-enacting the Structural Pest Control Act, which governs the indoor application of pesticides in Illinois. The Act expired on January 1, 2008 after routine legislation to extend a sunset provision did not pass in 2007.
The Structural Pest Control Act governs the indoor application of...
