Who's Hiding The Hybrids?

Great piece Wednesday night on WMAQ-TV on how hard it is for many car buyers to find hybrid cars.

Many buyers are told to go to a clean car state if they want to buy a hybrid. HB 3424, set for a vote next week in the Illinois House, would make Illinois a Clean Car State.

Do you know where your State Rep stands on HB3424?


Who's Hiding The Hybrids? - Videos - WMAQ

Durbin, Obama Say 'Nay' to Old Energy Policies

Good to see Sens. Durbin and Obama on the prevailing side in this big vote earlier today:

U.S. Senate today voted down an amendment by a margin of 42 to 56 (60 votes were needed for approval) that would have opened pristine lands and coastal waters, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to new oil drilling. It would have also promoted the use of
expensive, dirty, and dangerous "unconventional" fuels produced from liquid coal and oil shale.

Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Pete Domenici, (R-N.M.), attempted to tack their disastrous Domestic Energy Production Act tack onto the flood relief bill. This follows a renewed call from President Bush and his allies in Congress for more of the same disastrous energy policies that have saddled us with our present energy and economic crises.

Here is a statement of Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope on the vote:

"The answer to our oil addiction is not to search for a bigger fix. Drilling our coasts and national treasures like the Arctic Refuge and spending billions on dirty and expensive boondoggles like liquid coal and oil shale won't help hardworking Americans cope with gas prices. It will only add to the tens of billions of dollars the oil industry is already making.

"Even at peak production, which could take twenty years, the Arctic Refuge would provide roughly a year's worth of oil and would reduce gas prices at most by one or two cents a gallon.

"Under the leadership of President Bush and his allies in Congress, gas prices have more than doubled, Big Oil has made more than half a trillion dollars in profits over the past five years, and the United States has become even more dangerously addicted to fossil fuels.

"Hardworking Americans need real relief instead of the recycled rhetoric and disastrous energy policies that the president and his allies in Congress have pushed for the past seven years. Thankfully the leadership in the Senate has put forward a plan that will actually protect consumers, put America on the path toward a clean energy future, and finally put the
brakes on the taxpayer-funded giveaways that have been helping fuel Big Oil's record profits.

"Instead of searching for more ways to pad Big Oil's bottom line, the Consumer-First Energy Act offers Senators a chance to stop writing a blank check to Big Oil and instead protect consumers and invest in clean energy.

"These are the kind of answers we need—solutions that will bring energy costs under control, combat global warming, and leave America's last wild places intact."

Gas Hits $4 - Cleaner Cars, Anyone?

Today in Chicago I saw my first $4/gallon gas. $4.04, to be exact (it was for premium). Temporary price spike, or taste of the future?

You know the feeling - your gas gauge is reading low (that tank went fast!), and you're wondering "how much is it gonna be this time?" You pull into your local Big Oil outlet and wish there was Something Somebody Could Do.

Turns out, there is. The Illinois House is considering the Illinois Clean Car Act, which would bring a cleaner version of the same car you drive now to Illinois. They're already required in 13 other states, but here we get the versions that put out more pollution and use more gas. Whatever car you need - SUV or sedan, pickup or compact, it comes in a cleaner version that uses less gas - you just can't buy it here.

Unless, of course, the Illinois General Assembly passes House Bill 3424, the Illinois Clean Car Act. A new report released today by Environment Illinois finds that, collectively, Illinois drivers would save $1.24 billion each and every year at the gas pump. A nice reward for making a big dent in global warming pollution, and preventing 100,000 asthma attacks and other respiratory symptoms annually.

So Somebody CAN Do Something. That Somebody is your State Representative. Do your part in Illinois' driver for clean air here.

Lights Out, Chicago!

Tonight from 8-9PM is "Earth Hour", when people across the globe will be turning off unnecessary lights and appliances in a symbolic show of strength in the fight against global warming.

Obviously we need a lot more than one dark hour to solve global warming, but it is impressive to see the lengths to which the City of Chicago and its partners are going to drive participation tonight.

It's too bad the forecast calls for a cloudy night, it would have made for amazing stargazing. Still, those with a view of the Chicago skyline should see some dramatic images of iconic skyscrapers going dark.

Of course, people anywhere can participate, so lights out, everyone!

Earth Hour US - Earth Hour 2008

Bill Foster For Congress

Voters have a clear environmental choice in the March 8th special election in the 14th Congressional District. Bill Foster's strong science background gives him a unique understanding of the challenges facing our environment, and he will be an articulate advocate for solving global warming, protecting endangered species, and cleaning up air and water pollution.

He supports:

-Setting limits on greenhouse gas pollution
-Promoting smart energy solutions, like renewables and energy efficiency, to create jobs, cut our dependence on foreign oil and cut pollution
-Strengthening the Clean Water Act, to better protect Illinois' wetlands, our Fox River, and all of America's waters
-Protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling


Bill Foster is a scientist who has won an energy efficiency award from the Department of Energy, is uniquely poised to not only protect our national treasures like the Arctic, but also to help lead us to a new green economy that will create new jobs in our state while helping us to meet the challenges associated with global warming.

Sierra Club endorses Bill Foster, and urges all 14th District voters who want to see Congress do more to protect our environment to support him in Saturday's special election.

Champions For Change In Springfield

Here are Sierra Club's endorsements for General Assembly in the February 5th Republican and Democratic Primary elections. An unusual number of contested races this year creates new opportunities to elect environmental champions, and unprecedented threats to the General Assembly’s current environmental leaders. These are Democrats and Republicans we know will fight for smart energy solutions, healthy air and water, and open space.

The next General Assembly will decide whether Illinois takes serious action to fight global warming, create jobs in the new energy economy, and protect our drinking water from pollution. These are Democrats and Republicans, from downstate, the suburbs, and Chicago, who know that protecting the environment is good for the economy, good for our health, and good for our pocketbooks.

The legislature is expected to address major energy and environmental issues in the near future, including:

-Whether Illinois becomes the next “clean car” state, joining 14 others that have opted for cars that save money at the pump by using less gas, and put out less pollution

-State limits on global warming pollution, with major incentives for the creation of “green collar jobs”

-State programs to protect open spaces from development

-New drinking water safeguards

Illinois is on the verge of some very exciting changes that provide an economic boost while making our state a healthier place. However, to make these changes we need champions for solutions in Springfield, and we are proud to recommend this slate to Illinois primary voters.

Sierra Club has made these endorsements in primary elections so far. More endorsements will be made for the fall general election. Our priority with this round was to consider contested primary races.

Illinois House of Representatives

7 Karen Yarbrough (D)
9 Arthur Turner (D)
11 John Fritchey (D)
12 Sara Feigenholtz (D)
13 Greg Harris (D)
14 Harry Osterman (D)
16 Lou Lang (D)
17 Elizabeth Coulson (R)
18 Julie Hamos (D)
22 Sandy Pihos (R)
25 Barbara Flynn-Currie (D)
26 Will Burns (D)
27 Monique Davis (D)
29 David Miller (D)
34 Connie Howard (D)
38 Al Riley (D)
41 Bob Biggins (R)
48 Dave Carlin (R)
56 Paul Froehlich (D)
57 Elaine Nekritz (D)
58 Karen May (D)
59 Kathy Ryg (D)
62 Sandy Cole (R)
66 Christine Prochno (R)
71 Mike Boland (D)
78 Deborah Graham (D)
92 Allen Mayer (D)
96 Darlene Senger (R)

Illinois Senate

2 William Delgado (D)
7 Heather Steans (D)
41 Christine Radogno (R)
3 Mattie Hunter (D)
6 John Cullerton (D)
12 Martin Sandoval (D)
21 Dan Cronin (R)
29 Susan Garrett (D)
30 Terry Link (D)
39 Don Harmon (D)
42 Linda Holmes (D)

Sierra Club volunteers are working to assist the campaigns and educate area voters about the candidates’ positions on the issues. Sierra Club represents over 25,000 members in Illinois, and has been reaching to involve those members and, through Sierra Club Illinois Political Action Committee, the general public in these campaigns.

More information about Sierra Club’s endorsements is available at www.illinois.sierraclub.org/vote

A Clean Water Ticket For MWRD

Sierra Club has endorsed three candidates in the February 5th Democratic Primary for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Sierra Club recommends a “clean water ticket” of Dean Maragos, Matthew Podgorski , and Mariyana Spyropoulos to Democratic primary voters in Cook County.

The safety and quality of our water supply will be on the ballot on February 5th, and these are three candidates voters can trust to safeguard our Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Each is committed to clean water, and will be champions for the changes we need to make to protect public health and drinking water.

The revival of the Chicago River is a huge success story, and people are flocking to it as a recreational resource. They should not be exposed to dangerous bacteria and pathogens in the water because MWRD chooses not to install the same disinfection equipment used by cities and towns all across Illinois and America, including by the MWRD itself at its plants in the suburbs.

None of the incumbents have committed to install disinfection equipment.

Maragos, Podgorski, and Spyropoulos would work to change that, and protect our water supply. We think they deserve the vote of those who want clean water on February 5th.

This is a chance to complete the revival of the Chicago River, and make it a safe and vibrant centerpiece of our city. Maragos, Podgorski, and Spyropoulos are leaders who have a vision for a clean and healthy river system for future generations.

The MWRD also has important responsibilities for protecting open space and guarding against flooding. Maragos, Podgorski, and Spyropoulos support new protections for Cook County’s last remaining wetlands, which soak up rainwater during storms, and using MWRD’s large land holdings for public purposes like recreation, wildlife habitat, and other non-commercial uses.

"We are at a generational crossroads where the decisions we make today regarding our natural resources will affect future generations. We have the knowledge and capability to make the right decisions, such as protecting Lake Michigan from pollutants and disinfecting our waterways,” said Mariyana Spyropoulos. “Let’s find the will to protect our natural resources."

“I would like to thank the members of the Sierra Club for putting their faith in me to serve as a true steward of our water environment,” said Matthew Podgorski. “Paying lip service to environmental causes will no longer suffice. The voters are ready to elect a Commissoner to the MWRD that has proven environmental leadership credentials.”

“What many voters do not realize is that the MWRD is one of the largest single landowners in Cook County. The District must pursue the best and highest use of that land, be it for picnicking, recreation or prairies,” said Dean Maragos, who is currently a Commissioner at the Illinois International Port District, the agency that controls most of Chicago’s southern lakefront. “The Sierra Club’s endorsement of my candidacy is a great honor I won’t soon forget. It will give voters an opportunity to better understand where I stand on important environmental issues while highlighting my sincere desire to increase recreational access to Chicago’s rivers and streams, which is an important step in improving our region’s water resources,” Maragos added.