States Paving the Way for a Bright Future for Residential Solar

By: Jack Sundermann

When deciding whether to install solar energy systems into their homes, most Americans heavily consider overall cost and payback period on their investment. Despite advances in technology over the past decade, residential solar systems represent a significant investment with an average gross cost of $20,650.^[1] Prices for similarly sized solar energy systems can vary wildly from state to state.^[2] Interestingly, this is often less to do with average sunlight and more to do with the incentives and policies enacted by local governments.

Wetland Fragmentation: How Poorly Regulated Urban Development Has Destroyed Illinois’ Natural Flood Control

By Journal Editor

On March 24, 2023

In News & Announcements

Wetland Fragmentation: How Poorly Regulated Urban Development Has Destroyed Illinois’ Natural Flood Control

By: Caitlin Federici

The taming of the historic swamplands around Chicago fragmented and irreparably damaged the Illinois River’s natural flood control, wetlands. Every year, once the snow begins to melt and Chicago paints its river green Chicagoans know that construction season is just around the corner. Construction around the Chicago area has always been complicated. Chicago’s very existence is often understood as an engineering miracle.

The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative Aims to Bring High Speed Rail to Illinois

By Journal Editor

On March 3, 2023

In News & Announcements

The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative Aims to Bring High Speed Rail to Illinois

By: Rachel Grudzinski

High speed rails may seem like a transportation option unique to Europeans, but that may not be the case for much longer. The United States has plans to implement high speed rail within the upcoming decade. High speed rails are trains that run faster than traditional trains at around 124-200mph.[1] Currently, Acela is the only high speed train in the United States which is operated by Amtrak.[2] Acela currently reaches speeds up to 150mph and travels between cities in the Northeast Corridor (Boston, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Washington).[3]

Should Electric Vehicles Be Illinois’ Future?

By Journal Editor

On February 3, 2023

In News & Announcements

Should Electric Vehicles be Illinois’ Future?

By: Jacob Regan

While electric vehicles play a vital role in Illinois’ future, upgrading public transportation is essential to creating a greener Illinois. As the new year begins, expect to see electric vehicles become a more prominent part of everyday life. The number of people using electric vehicles is rising: in November 2017, Illinois had an electric vehicle count of 8031^[1]; at the end of last year, that number was 57311.^[2] On the political side, Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth secured $8.215 million for statewide programs for electric buses, charging infrastructure, and electric paratransit vehicles.^[3] This money is also to be used for electric vehicle readiness programs across the state.^[4]

Electric Vehicle Legislation in Illinois

By Journal Editor

On December 2, 2022

In News & Announcements

Electric Vehicle Legislation in Illinois

By: Rachel Grudzinski

Legislators throughout the country and at multiple levels of government are passing legislation making clear that Electric vehicles (“EV”) are the future. On the federal level the Biden administration is investing “$7.5 billion to build a national network of 500,000 EV chargers,” more than $7 billion to provide domestic manufacturers with critical minerals and other components to make batteries, and “over $10 billion for clean transit and school buses.”[1] Likewise, legislators here in Illinois are similarly prioritizing EV through legislation. In 2021 Illinois passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which set out a goal to have one million EVs on the road by 2030.[2]

Copi, the Fish Formally Known as Asian Carp; a Rebranding to Save the Great Lakes

By Journal Editor

On November 11, 2022

In News & Announcements

Copi, The Fish Formally Known as Asian Carp; a Rebranding to Save the Great Lakes

By: Blythe Pabon

To protect the Great Lakes from Asian Carp, Illinois officials are turning to a strategy struggling artists have used for decades, a rebrand. [1] The Illinois Department of Natural Resources hired local Chicago Communication Studio, Span, with the crisis focused rebrand. [2] Asian Carp is an invasive species and poses substantial harm to Lake Michigan’s ecosystem, which provides drinking water for over half of the state of Illinois.[3] In its rebranding campaign, Span highlighted the truths about Asian carp, including how Asian Carp is the second healthiest fish in the world. In fact, the truth about Asian Carp’s copious and invasive nature inspired the new name, Copi.[4]

Illinois Court Pauses Dakota Access Pipeline Expansion

By Journal Editor

On February 15, 2022

In News & Announcements

The Dakota Access, LLC, and Energy Transfer Crude Oil Company, LLC (collectively, “the carriers”), own the Dakota Access Pipeline that runs from North Dakota to southern Illinois.^[1] The carriers submitted a plan to the Illinois Commerce Commission (“Commission”) to add additional pumping states in Illinois to accommodate the 2020 approval by North Dakota Regulators expanding the capacity of the pipeline from 570,000 to 1.1 million barrels per day.^[2] The Commission granted the carrier’s petition and Save Our Illinois Land (“SOIL”), one of the environmental groups opposed to the petition, filed for a rehearing which the Commission denied.^[3]

Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Bill Could Harm the Communities it Aims to Serve

By Journal Editor

On January 31, 2022

In News & Announcements

A new Illinois (IL) bill, the Beneficial Electrification Act, would require the installation of electric vehicle (EV) ready parking spaces at all newly constructed and renovated buildings, both residential and commercial. The bill was approved by the Illinois General Assembly’s House Energy and Environment Committee on January 11, 2022.^[1]

State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) introduced the bill which would not require the installation of the actual charging stations, rather, the parking spaces would need to be “EV ready,” meaning the installation of the electrical wiring, circuits, and outlets necessary to support a Level 2 charging station.^[2]

How Grid Resiliency can Help Tackle Climate Change

By Journal Editor

On April 1, 2021

In News & Announcements, In the News

Americans are experiencing the impacts of climate change on an increasingly acute level every day. The February storms across the nation that resulted in rolling blackouts across Texas and several other nearby states underscored the crisis and raised questions about whether the American electricity grid can withstand the negative effects of climate change, such as extreme temperatures, more frequent and intense storms, floods, wildfires, droughts, and more.

Since 2011, the United States has sustained $135 billion in damages from extreme weather and climate disasters, with more than seventy extreme climate events affecting the Midwest.[i] One recent study showed that investor-owned utilities face a $500 billion resilience investment gap.[ii]

A Tale of Two Energy Bills in Springfield

By Journal Editor

On October 23, 2020

In News & Announcements, In the News

Illinois legislators are evaluating two different proposed clean energy bills that would accelerate renewable energy growth in the state. One bill, the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) would focus on consumer protection, expanding energy efficiency programs, increasing EV charging stations and protecting existing clean energy jobs in the state.^[1] The second bill, Path to 100, focuses more on funding clean energy jobs.^[2] Both bills seek to ensure Illinois achieves 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.^[3]

CEJA would continue to fund and expand programs established by the 2014 Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA),^[4] which has lowered the cost of Illinois energy bills from some of the highest in the country to some of the lowest.^[5] Funding from the 2014 Act is running low, and CEJA would protect thousands of clean energy jobs by bolstering funding for those programs.^[6] The most ambitious provisions in the bill seek to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.^[7]

Chicago-Kent Journal of Environmental and Energy Law

Tag: Illinois