News & Commentary

Illinois Clean Cars Program Would Create Jobs and Save Money

April 14, 2021 Expert BlogIllinoisDr. Simon Mui, J.C. Kibbey

New reports demonstrate that a Clean Cars Illinois Program would create jobs and save consumers money

Time to Bury Big Oil's Criminal Enhancement Bill for Good

April 11, 2021 Expert BlogIllinoisJ.C. Kibbey

An Illinois legislator is pushing for a bill which would significantly enhance criminal penalties for anyone entering or causing damage to a very widely defined group of “critical infrastructure facilities,” effectively chilling peaceful exercise of freedom of speech, and threatening…

Environmental Justice Protects Public Health

April 1, 2021 Expert BlogChicago, IllinoisGina Ramirez

Chicago’s health care professionals are calling on the city’s Department of Public Health to be accountable to policy decisions that put communities at risk. This is a major step in our fight for environmental justice because racism is a public…

Fighting Inequity with Solar Power

March 30, 2021 DispatchMinneapolis, St. PaulSusan Cosier

Minneapolis’s 4d program to boost energy efficiency and affordable housing in the city is kicking it up a notch.

Victory in California

March 30, 2021 Expert BlogCalifornia, Chicago, IllinoisLauren P. Phillips

A court rules that California must stop exempting metal shredding facilities from hazardous waste laws, clearing a path to finally protect California communities from metal shredder pollution.

Stressed by Heat, Farmworkers Deserve Federal Protections

March 26, 2021 Expert BlogCalifornia, Washington, MinnesotaTeniope Adewumi-Gunn

Unprotected from many basic workplace rights and in the face of a growing climate crisis that threatens their well-being, farmworkers deserve federal safeguards from extreme heat and its dangerous effects.

Electric School Buses for Peoria’s Clean Energy Future

March 25, 2021 Expert BlogPeoria, IllinoisSelena Kyle, Alyssa Brown

Two Peoria-area school districts have added electric school buses to their fleets, thanks to the vision and hard work of local educators and students and the creation of the Edwards Settlement Fund.

The Case for Equitable Building Decarb in the Midwest

March 23, 2021 Expert BlogMidwestAmulya Yerrapotu

By taking an equity-first approach to building decarbonization, the Midwest can unlock not just a core climate solution, but also vital health, economic, and jobs benefits, and ensure they reach the communities that need them most.

St. Louis Charges Toward Clean Air with Electric Vehicles

March 22, 2021 Expert BlogSt. Louis, MissouriKelly Blynn, Stefan Schaffer

St. Louis continues to set a brisk pace on its path toward clean transportation: In February, Mayor Lyda Krewson signed an executive order that formally begins the transition for the city fleet, requiring city departments to prioritize acquiring EVs over…

MISO and SPP Can Benefit from a More Connected Grid

March 3, 2021 Expert BlogTexas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kansas, MissouriToba Pearlman

Electric grids across the Midwest, South, and in Texas failed a key resilience test during last month’s winter storm, and one key conclusion is clear: The grids connected via transmission lines fared significantly better than those isolated and on their…

Consumers Win If Illinois’ Prairie State Coal Plant Closes

March 3, 2021 Expert BlogIllinoisJ.C. Kibbey

Prairie State is one of the top 10 polluters in the nation.

High-Road Clean Energy Jobs: The Key to Building Back Better

February 25, 2021 Expert BlogBoston, Charlotte, St. PaulMaria Stamas, Caroline Keicher

Forward-thinking cities should aim to build back better—and more inclusively—by supporting strategies for a more equitable and sustainable future.

In a Segregated Chicago, Art Puts Environmental Racism on Display

December 22, 2020 PerspectivesChicagoZaria Howell

If the General Iron plant is too dirty for the city’s North Side, it’s also too dirty for the Southeast Side.

Michigan Clean Energy Year in Review (and the Road Ahead)

December 21, 2020 Expert BlogMichiganSamantha Williams, Derrell E. Slaughter

We are building a foundation now in Michigan for the clean energy transition, not only reaping the health and economic benefits for residents but also ensuring that the state is doing its part to tackle the climate crisis.

Cities Are Leading the Way: 2020 Wins & Look Ahead

December 17, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, Charlotte, Honolulu, Pittsburgh, St. LouisJay Orfield, Kimi Narita

Cities made tremendous progress in their climate challenge goals throughout a difficult 2020. Now, cities are eyeing all that is possible in the new year.

Energy Efficiency: Ohio's Hospitals and Low-Income Residents

December 15, 2020 Expert BlogOhioDaniel Sawmiller

Ohio's Hospitals and low-income residents have benefit greatly from energy efficiency programs. Still, Ohio lawmakers may choose to eliminate these programs and increase the energy burden—and electric bill—for both.

Just Transition Milestone: Solar Power for Peoria’s ART Inc.

December 14, 2020 Expert BlogPeoria, IllinoisSelena Kyle, Alyssa Brown

Peoria, Illinois has hit a new milestone in its efforts to transition away from fossil fuels. One of the projects funded through our Clean Air Act settlement with the owners of the E.D. Edwards power plant is done!

A Catalyst for the Midwest’s Clean Energy Transition

December 1, 2020 NRDC in ActionKansas City (Kansas), St. Louis, Missouri, New York CityBrian Palmer

Ashok Gupta spent decades cleaning up New York’s grid and reducing its reliance on dirty fuels. Now he’s working to bring the clean energy future to the Midwest.

St. Louis Centers Equity in Innovative Green Job Training

November 16, 2020 Expert BlogSt. LouisStefan Schaffer

This fall, the city begins recruitment for a new green jobs training apprenticeship.

Climate Wins!

November 12, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, San Antonio, Denver, Columbus, CincinnatiHilary Firestone

Voters make it clear that the climate matters in this year’s local elections.