February 19, 2019 1:41 PM EDT
On Wednesday Governor J.B. Pritzker will give his first budget address as Illinois’s 43rd Governor. This is a key opportunity for him to address the financial benefits of renewable energy and a pathway for Illinois to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity. It’s vital that his energy platform be an equitable path forward for the state. Here’s what we hope to see included. Read more >
October 24, 2018 12:01 AM EDT
A pesar de los avances en energías renovables, muchas plantas de carbón siguen operando en Illinois. Entre más rápido el estado logre cerrar las plantas sucias de carbón, mayores serán los beneficios. Read more >
August 20, 2018 10:07 AM EDT
Changes to an important state air pollution standard are being considered by the Illinois Pollution Control Board this summer. My colleagues and I found striking differences among the Dynegy plants that would be affected by the proposed rule change to be decided on as soon as Thursday August 23. Under the current Illinois Multi-Pollutant Standard (MPS), the Dynegy coal plants that cause the most harm to Illinois residents are the ones more likely to be closed or be upgraded with air pollution control technology. But if the Pollution Control Board adopts Dynegy’s proposal to change how state air pollution limits are calculated, it could result in the company closing its cleaner plants and keeping its dirtiest plants open because it would no longer need the cleanest plants in its fleet to comply with the state requirements. My colleague James Gignac, lead analyst in the Midwest Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), further reflects on the impacts of the proposed change to the MPS, below. Read more >
August 13, 2018 10:37 AM EDT
Last year, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) launched NextGrid, a collaboration between key stakeholders to create a shared base of information on electric utility industry issues and opportunities around grid modernization. NextGrid is the Illinois Utility of the Future Study, which is being managed by the University of Illinois and consists of seven working groups comprised of subject matter experts, utilities, business interests, and environmental organizations. The Union of Concerned Scientists is a member of two of these working groups.
December 22, 2016 2:54 PM EDT
With the Clean Power Plan’s future up in the air, and concerns about how science might fare given the recent election results, some may think 2016 wasn’t a great year for clean energy. However, lots of great state level policies were passed — some with bipartisan support—and there’s even some good news on the national front. Read more >
