Chicago Gets Geared Up For Electric Vehicles With plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles ready to hit the marketplace, an article in the Chicago Tribune looks at whether Chicago is ready to support electric vehicle charging. The Chicago area is the third largest auto market in the nation, and with low-carbon sources of electricity available, it's  ideal location to use an plug-in vehicles [...]
Howard Learner in Chicago Tribune: Illinois Can be a Solar Energy Leader A feature in the Chicago Tribune looks at the growth of solar power in Illinois. With solar equipment becoming more affordable and supportive policies in place to encourage solar energy in Illinois and other states, solar is beginning to take off in the Midwest. ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the Tribune that Illinois' recent [...]
New Interconnection Standards Clear the Way for Clean Energy in Iowa The Iowa Utilities Board has issued final standards for interconnection of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy to the Iowa electric grid. These rules are the culmination of years of advocacy by the Environmental Law & Policy Center and a coalition of clean energy business, agricultural and environmental groups. Interconnection is the process of linking clean [...]
CBS: Homeowners Solar Rights Act Makes Solar an Option for More Illinois Residents ELPC advocated for the Illinois Homeowners Solar Rights Act (HB 5429) that requires homeowners associations to adopt acceptable design standards for solar systems in buildings up to three stories tall. The Act passed the General Assembly in May, which is good news for the environment and for families like the Goldmans whose homeowners association [...]
Legislation to Boost Solar Power Passes Illinois General Assembly On May 26, the Illinois General Assembly passed two bills that will create more than 5,000 new jobs and bring more than 3 million kilowatt hours of solar electricity to Illinois consumers by 2014. "By removing barriers to solar power developers, these measures will create approximately 5,000 new jobs between now and 2015," said Assistant [...]