The coal rush slowed yesterday when the company seeking to turn coal into diesel fuel at a plant in East Dubuque shelved the proposal.
Getting auto fuel from coal basically doubles the global warming pollution that comes out of a car.
Sierra Club fought the proposal, primarily because the company, Rentech, made no commitments to deal with their global warming pollution.
According to Verena Owen, chair of the Sierra Club's Illinois Clean Energy Campaign:
"Over 30 Sierra Club volunteers from Iowa and Illinois showed up and spoke up at the hearing for the Rentech facility, facing 200 some Rentech supporters. We have been working with the NRDC office in Chicago to develop comments. Rentech knows we are serious.
It is noteworthy that Rentech pulled out not only over carbon regulation uncertainty but also because of economic factors. It is clear that CTL will need substantial state and federal financing in order to get off the ground, even in Mississippi. We will have to work on not giving hand-outs to this new market for dirty coal. We can't drill or mine ourselves out of global warming."
December 05, 2007
November 15, 2007
Blagojevich Joins MW Govs to Lead on Global Warming
At a summit meeting of Midwest Governors today in Milwaukee, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is joining the governors of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Michigan in committing to regional limits on the pollution that is causing global warming.
Illinois is now at the forefront of states working to solve global warming with smart energy solutions. The Midwest can be a laboratory for the solutions that can save our planet, while creating jobs in a new energy economy, and saving all of us money we currently spend on heat, electricity, and gasoline.
Earlier this year, Blagojevich announced goals for reducing global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020, and 60% below 1990 levels by 2050 - the reductions called for by the scientific community. This year, the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group considered steps for reaching the first milestone, and has recommended a package of clean car and energy measures that would meet the first target while creating new jobs and lowering energy bills.
The good news about global warming is that we know what solutions will work. Being smarter about how we produce and use energy will not only make deep cuts in pollution, it will create new jobs in the industries of the future. We know we can’t wait for the Bush Administration to lead on solving global warming. It’s up to the states to lead America in implementing solutions to this unprecedented problem, and it's great to see Illinois at the head of the pack.
Illinois is now at the forefront of states working to solve global warming with smart energy solutions. The Midwest can be a laboratory for the solutions that can save our planet, while creating jobs in a new energy economy, and saving all of us money we currently spend on heat, electricity, and gasoline.
Earlier this year, Blagojevich announced goals for reducing global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020, and 60% below 1990 levels by 2050 - the reductions called for by the scientific community. This year, the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group considered steps for reaching the first milestone, and has recommended a package of clean car and energy measures that would meet the first target while creating new jobs and lowering energy bills.
The good news about global warming is that we know what solutions will work. Being smarter about how we produce and use energy will not only make deep cuts in pollution, it will create new jobs in the industries of the future. We know we can’t wait for the Bush Administration to lead on solving global warming. It’s up to the states to lead America in implementing solutions to this unprecedented problem, and it's great to see Illinois at the head of the pack.
November 10, 2007
Blues Bash Sunday
Join us if you can:
Sierra Club's Annual Blues & Greens
Blues Bash @ Kingston Mines
with Linsey Alexander and the
Linsey Alexander Blues Band
Sunday, November 11
5 pm till 8 pm
Kingston Mines Blues Club
2548 North Halsted, Chicago
Tickets: $40
Join us for Chicago Blues,
down home cookin' and dancin'
Soul food buffet and cash bar
Non-smoking and family friendly - KIDS ARE FREE!
Sierra Club's Annual Blues & Greens
Blues Bash @ Kingston Mines
with Linsey Alexander and the
Linsey Alexander Blues Band
Sunday, November 11
5 pm till 8 pm
Kingston Mines Blues Club
2548 North Halsted, Chicago
Tickets: $40
Join us for Chicago Blues,
down home cookin' and dancin'
Soul food buffet and cash bar
Non-smoking and family friendly - KIDS ARE FREE!
October 28, 2007
Hear That Giant Sucking Sound?
Today's Tribune has an article that explains why Sierra Club made having Illinois ratify the Great Lakes Compact one of our top legislative priorities of 2007. Indeed, we are emerging as a target for a thirsty country envisioning some very large straws pointing our way.
Good work by two lakefront legislators, State Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) to get this done this year. Sierra Club volunteers met with their legislators earlier this year in their districts to stress the importance of getting this done this year. Now we need our Great Lakes neighbor states to do the same. (Minnesota already has).
Good work by two lakefront legislators, State Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) to get this done this year. Sierra Club volunteers met with their legislators earlier this year in their districts to stress the importance of getting this done this year. Now we need our Great Lakes neighbor states to do the same. (Minnesota already has).
October 22, 2007
The Incredible Shrinking Great Lakes
Today's New York Times has an alarming story about the effect that low water levels throughout the Great Lakes are having on commercial shipping.
September 12, 2007
Road Looks Clear to Clean Cars
Today in Vermont, Judge William Sessions ruled against the automakers and for the Sierra Club, the states of Vermont and New York, and other environmental groups, and opened the door for states like Illinois to mandate cutting global warming emissions from cars. Over the vigorous objections of the automakers, he ruled that New York and Vermont may proceed with enacting the California Clean Car (Pavley) Standards, pending EPA approval. These standards, adopted by California and at least 11 other states, and proposed by pending state legislation in Springfield, will reduce global warming emissions from cars by 30 percent when fully implemented in 2016.
In Illinois, the cleaner standard would be required under House Bill 3424, sponsored by State Representative Karen May (D-Highland Park). State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan) has introduced similar legislation, Senate Bill 663. Clean cars have been recommended to Gov. Blagojevich by the Clean Car and Energy Efficiency Working Group he appointed in 2006, and most recently by the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group.
Today’s ruling makes it very clear that Illinois indeed has the authority to choose cleaner, more efficient cars. Gov. Blagojevich and state lawmakers are considering proposals to bring cleaner cars to Illinois, and we urge them to act quickly so we can all start saving money at the gas pump, breathing cleaner air, and making a big dent in global warming pollution.
The cleaner car standard will mean more vehicle choices for Illinois drivers, so matter what kind of car you need, you will have choices that will go farther on a gallon of gas, and pollute less. Adopting California standards here will save Illinois drivers 3 billion gallons of gasoline per year by the year 2030, which will mean money that would have gone to big oil companies will instead stay in our pockets.
The faster Illinois chooses clean cars, the faster we all will enjoy the benefits, and a cleaner, more affordable future.
The decision can be found at:
http://www.vtd.uscourts.gov/Supporting%20Files/Cases/05cv302.pdf
In Illinois, the cleaner standard would be required under House Bill 3424, sponsored by State Representative Karen May (D-Highland Park). State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan) has introduced similar legislation, Senate Bill 663. Clean cars have been recommended to Gov. Blagojevich by the Clean Car and Energy Efficiency Working Group he appointed in 2006, and most recently by the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group.
Today’s ruling makes it very clear that Illinois indeed has the authority to choose cleaner, more efficient cars. Gov. Blagojevich and state lawmakers are considering proposals to bring cleaner cars to Illinois, and we urge them to act quickly so we can all start saving money at the gas pump, breathing cleaner air, and making a big dent in global warming pollution.
The cleaner car standard will mean more vehicle choices for Illinois drivers, so matter what kind of car you need, you will have choices that will go farther on a gallon of gas, and pollute less. Adopting California standards here will save Illinois drivers 3 billion gallons of gasoline per year by the year 2030, which will mean money that would have gone to big oil companies will instead stay in our pockets.
The faster Illinois chooses clean cars, the faster we all will enjoy the benefits, and a cleaner, more affordable future.
The decision can be found at:
http://www.vtd.uscourts.gov/Supporting%20Files/Cases/05cv302.pdf
August 28, 2007
Clean Energy Bill Now Law!
The major new clean energy programs signed into law today by Governor Blagojevich are two major steps forward toward a cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy future for Illinois. After decades of dealing with the pollution and cost of relying solely on dirty coal and nuclear power, Illinois is now a national leader in promoting clean, renewable energy, and in helping consumer and businesses cut their electric bills by using less power.
The new requirement that 25% of Illinois’ electricity will come from renewable sources by the year 2025 will create new jobs in a pollution-free power industry. At the same time, utilities, the State of Illinois, and local governments will begin major new programs to reduce existing power use. By 2015, these programs are to cut existing power use 2% below today's levels. These conservation programs will deliver savings each and every month as our homes and businesses use less power. They will also create high-paying jobs in a clean, new energy economy.
By using less power overall, and by getting more and more of it from pollution-free sources like wind, Illinois is also taking two big steps to reducing our contribution to global warming. Scientists tell us that we need to reduce pollution by 80% to solve global warming, and that energy efficiency and renewable energy are the two most effective strategies for reaching these goals.
Historically, Illinois has lagged behind in implementing smart energy policies. Today, we move from the back of the pack to the head of the class in implementing smart energy policies for the future. This is one area where our leaders have agreed on major changes that are the right choices for Illiniosans today, and for our future.
The new requirement that 25% of Illinois’ electricity will come from renewable sources by the year 2025 will create new jobs in a pollution-free power industry. At the same time, utilities, the State of Illinois, and local governments will begin major new programs to reduce existing power use. By 2015, these programs are to cut existing power use 2% below today's levels. These conservation programs will deliver savings each and every month as our homes and businesses use less power. They will also create high-paying jobs in a clean, new energy economy.
By using less power overall, and by getting more and more of it from pollution-free sources like wind, Illinois is also taking two big steps to reducing our contribution to global warming. Scientists tell us that we need to reduce pollution by 80% to solve global warming, and that energy efficiency and renewable energy are the two most effective strategies for reaching these goals.
Historically, Illinois has lagged behind in implementing smart energy policies. Today, we move from the back of the pack to the head of the class in implementing smart energy policies for the future. This is one area where our leaders have agreed on major changes that are the right choices for Illiniosans today, and for our future.
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