What will we remember when we look back on the COVID-19 crisis? Will it be the moment we first learned we could no longer leave our homes for an indefinite period? Will we remember not being able to gather for family celebrations or even for funerals? Will our first recollection be of not being able… Continue reading Showing solidarity
15 Years of Cuts Leave Illinois EPA Struggling to Protect Air & Water, Act on Climate Change
A new report issued today finds that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has been cut in half since 2003, resulting in significant reductions in public health protection efforts. Inspection of air pollution sources, monitoring of water quality, enforcement against environmental violators, and the ability to assure environmental justice by engaging communities in decision making have… Continue reading 15 Years of Cuts Leave Illinois EPA Struggling to Protect Air & Water, Act on Climate Change
STATE WATER QUALITY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS COLLABORATION, STAKEHOLDER COMMITMENT TO REDUCE NUTRIENT LOSS Farm, Local Government and Environmental Leaders Call for Sustained Investment to Meet Clean Water Goals
STATE WATER QUALITY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS COLLABORATION, STAKEHOLDER COMMITMENT TO REDUCE NUTRIENT LOSS Farm, Local Government and Environmental Leaders Call for Sustained Investment to Meet Clean Water Goals November 20, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Cindy Skrukrud, Clean Water Program Director, Illinois Sierra Club, 815-353-5123 Beth Vogt, President, Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies, 217-523-1814 Andrea Casali,… Continue reading STATE WATER QUALITY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS COLLABORATION, STAKEHOLDER COMMITMENT TO REDUCE NUTRIENT LOSS Farm, Local Government and Environmental Leaders Call for Sustained Investment to Meet Clean Water Goals
Linda Sullivan: Pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act in Illinois
Linda Sullivan, Sierra Club River Prairie Group volunteer, had her letter to the editor published in the Chicago Tribune. Her piece is reprinted below. When Greta Thunberg begs legislators to stop telling her she is amazing but instead do something actually effective to avert climate disaster, she is talking about bills like the Clean… Continue reading Linda Sullivan: Pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act in Illinois
“Now We Can All Move Forward Together” as Tollway Drops Rt 53 Project
Today the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority formally moved to halt work on the controversial Route 53 extension by notifying the Federal Highway Administration that it is rescinding the authorization of the current Environmental Impact Statement. The move comes after decades of controversy over the high cost and environmental damage the project would have brought… Continue reading “Now We Can All Move Forward Together” as Tollway Drops Rt 53 Project
The Dawn of a Bold New Era in Illinois?
Illinois May Be Emerging As One of America’s Environmental Leadership States. The seemingly sudden passage of several mega-measures by the Illinois General Assembly in the final days of the spring legislative session undoubtedly surprised many Illinoisans who learned that, over the first weekend of summer, the legislature legalized recreational cannabis use, expanded gaming, launched a long… Continue reading The Dawn of a Bold New Era in Illinois?
Connecting for Clean Water: First statewide Water Sentinels gathering a huge success!
Last weekend, Sierra Club volunteers from around the state came together for our first Illinois Water Sentinels gathering, hosted by the Eagle View Group in the Quad Cities. The weekend included presentations from water experts, outings to explore the area and witness the impacts of flooding, plus opportunities to connect with one another over shared… Continue reading Connecting for Clean Water: First statewide Water Sentinels gathering a huge success!
House Passes Ban on Toxic Receipts
SPRINGFIELD– The Illinois House today approved legislation banning store, bank, and other receipts containing bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA exposure has been associated with an increased risk of conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as effects on the development of reproductive tissues, the immune system, and other tissues. Recent studies have found that BPA… Continue reading House Passes Ban on Toxic Receipts
Illinois House and Senate Pass Landmark Legislation to Clean Up Coal Ash
Bill addresses coal ash impoundments plaguing the state for decades Yesterday the Illinois Legislature passed SB9, the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act, which now heads to the Governor’s desk. The groundbreaking bill addresses the many waste pits filled with coal ash, the toxic byproduct of burning coal, located all over the state. Illinois is now… Continue reading Illinois House and Senate Pass Landmark Legislation to Clean Up Coal Ash
Reflections on HOW Great Lakes Conference in Detroit
Earlier in May, I attended the Healing our Waters (HOW) Coalition’s annual Great Lakes Conference. It was the coalition’s 14th (and my 4th) iteration of this conference, and this year showed a palpable shift in how things are done, who is invited to the podium and what content is highlighted. The conference booklet describes a… Continue reading Reflections on HOW Great Lakes Conference in Detroit
Illinois Sierra Club Blog 