GREEN LOBBY DAY AT THE ILLINOIS STATE CAPITOL

KEY ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

​2019
April 10, 2019 The Chicago City Council voted to approve a non-binding resolution that sets a goal of transitioning the city to 100 percent clean energy over the next 16 years. The resolution, which passed unanimously, calls for the city’s buildings to be powered exclusively by renewable sources by 2035. It also sets a goal of converting all Chicago Transit Authority buses to electric energy by 2040.
Although the measure is largely symbolic, given its non-binding status, environmental advocates celebrated the move, noting that Chicago is now the largest U.S. city to announce a timeline for obtaining all of its energy from renewable sources.
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January, 2019  Governor JB Pritzker​ committed Illinois to the US Climate Alliance signing an Executive Order to get the state  to 100% renewable energy by 2050!  Doing this he joined governors of 17 other states who made that pledge.
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Bills in Illinois Senate

• Transition to green energy – SB 29 allows towns transitioning to green energy to apply for certain tax benefits after being designated an Energy Transition Zone.

o   Sponsor: Senator Melinda Bush
o   Committee: Revenue

2018
Chicago Energy Rating Regulation 
On November 21st, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that Chicago will implement an Energy Rating System that makes energy use information for large buildings easily accessible to residents while encouraging energy savings. The zero to four star scale rating system is based on existing and publicly available energy data, alongside recent energy improvements to buildings. Each building over 50,000 square feet will be required to post ratings in a prominent location on the property, and share this information at the time of sale or lease listing. Chicago is the first US city to assign buildings an energy performance rating and require properties to post their rating.
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Illinois Senate Passes Bill to Protect Environmental, Labor Standards
The Illinois Baseline Protection Bill is moving through the Illinois legislature. It would prevent state and local agencies from weakening federal environmental and labor safeguards that were in place as of Jan. 1, 2017 – about three weeks before President Donald Trump took office.
For Illinois and other states, protections for air, water, wildlife, workers’ rights and worker safety are derived from federal regulations, which set minimum standards that states must meet but can also exceed.
The bill, introduced last June by state Sen. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, is modeled on a similar bill making its way through the California state legislature, said Kady McFadden, Sierra Club Illinois’ deputy director.
Source: chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/05/03

​Future Energy Jobs Act of 2017; Implementation in 2018.  The following describes the honor given to Illinois by the New York based, non profit, Interstate Renewable Energy Council.  The Illinois Power Authority and the Illinois Commerce Commission have set up a schedule and a series of steps for the successful roll out of this program in 2018.
_ _ _ _ _  Text From IRC Site Follows_ _ _ _ _ 
IRC Citation for the Most Creative Policy Solution: Illinois
For approaching clean energy policy comprehensively, integrating clean energy workforce provisions into new clean energy legislation, promoting equitable access to clean energy for all, and advancing collaborative community solar solutions.
Illinois’ passage of landmark legislation in 2017, the Future Energy Jobs Act, is noteworthy for many reasons, as it will spur a strong clean energy economy in the state for decades to come. Three provisions of the lengthy bill are stand outs: (1) integration of a strong jobs component to ensure the clean energy economy supports a robust, well-trained local workforce; (2) a new “Illinois Solar For All” program which aims to ensure solar policies benefit all citizens of the state, including low-income and environmental justice communities; and (3) a new community solar program, which should expand solar access to residents and businesses that cannot take advantage of on-site solar.
Most exciting, these initiatives will help ensure that clean energy growth in the state will create widespread economic and social justice opportunities, while also tackling critical environmental challenges. The legislation will bring training and employment opportunities to foster care alumni and citizens returning from incarceration through the establishment of a new utility jobs program, specifically to create a pool of trained solar installers across the state. In addition, the state wisely allocated resources to provide critical incentives to ensure that low-income households have equal opportunity to benefit from affordable solar. The community solar provisions of the bill were supported by a broad stakeholder group, which was spearheaded by related solar efforts led by the Cook County government.
Now, implementation of these forward-thinking policies has moved to the Illinois Power Authority and the Illinois Commerce Commission, which are moving expeditiously to solicit further stakeholder input before putting these important programs in place.
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2017
Resolution from EESP
The Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project (EESP) approved the following resolution on June 14, 2017 

"Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project supports the activity of the Illinois Green Caucus - that Illinois implement the actions associated with the Paris Accords."

This vote endorses efforts to ensure that the State of Illinois will carry out the changes associated with the Paris Accords even though the United States, on the federal level, has announced its withdrawal from the Accords.  
It is important to note by declaring its adherence to the Accords, Illinois is protecting current and future generations from the effects of pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions which not only have an adverse affect on health but scientists overwhelmingly agree are the cause of global warming.

State of Illinois Environmental Legislation Passed in 2017
Cyclists Can Ride on the Shoulder House Bill 1784 allows motorists to legally pass cyclists in no-passing zones, provided that the cyclist is traveling at less than half the speed limit and the driver can overtake the bike without exceeding the speed limit. The measure also allows bikers to ride on the shoulder of a road, and lets them use a red taillight on the rear of the bicycle instead of the previously required reflector.

Cycling Becomes the Official State Exercise Passing regulations to help improve safety and traffic for cyclists makes sense, beginning in 2018, cycling will become the official state exercise of Illinois under House Bill 2895

PACE Renewable Energy Financing Passes Both Chambers!
HB2831 has passed both chambers and will be passed on to the Governor. Congratulations to Rep. Lou Lang, Sen. Karen McConnaughay, and Environmental Law and Policy Center for their many years of work on this important initiative. This financing bill for local governments will be a new tool for renewable energy and energy financing. This has been extremely successful program in other states to improve housing stock, reduce utility bills, and save consumers money. (Ed. 5-2017)
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Wind Energy Fix Passes IL House Committee!
Senate Bill 71, introduced by Senator Don Harmon and Rep. Lou Lang, removes provisions concerning wind projects in the Future Energy Jobs Act and now allows the wind industry to significantly invest in Illinois. The bill helps Illinois remain a leader in renewables by moving forward $2.2 billion in wind farm construction, involving about 650 new wind turbines and 1 million hours of construction work. SB71 passed unanimously out of the House Energy committee and now awaits consideration on the house floor. Click here to read more!   (ed. 5-2017)

Chicago's 2017 Legislation:
Chicago Climate Charter
On December 5th, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy welcomed municipal leaders from across the world to the North American Climate Summit. Mayors and global climate leaders will gather to sign the Chicago Climate Charter, a first-of-its-kind international charter on climate change.
The Summit brought together leaders from the United States, Canada and Mexico to articulate commitments to the Paris Agreement. Mayor Emanuel is joined by Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo; Mayor of San Francisco, Ed Lee; Mayor of Mexico City, Miguel Ángel Mancera; Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante; Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson; Mayor of Phoenix, Greg Stanton; and nearly 50 Mayors from around the world for the 2-day event.  At the Summit, more than 50 mayors signed the Chicago Climate Charter, a first-of-its-kind international charter on climate change. Download a copy of the Chicago Climate Charter here.

On December 26th, Mayor Emanuel announced that ten additional cities have signed the Chicago Climate Charter, a first-of-its-kind international charter on climate change. The Chicago Climate Charter now represents 67 cities and tens of millions of people in cities across the world.

Energy Rating System for Large Buildings
On November 21, 2017, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that Chicago will implement an Energy Rating System that makes energy use information for large buildings easily accessible to residents while encouraging energy savings. The zero to four star scale rating system is based on existing and publicly available energy data, alongside recent energy improvements to buildings. Each building over 50,000 square feet will be required to post ratings in a prominent location on the property, and share this information at the time of sale or lease listing.  Chicago is the first US city to assign buildings an energy performance rating and require properties to post their rating

​Mid Level Building Recycling Strengthened
City of Chicago Recycling Ordinance for Buildings with 4+Units Effective 1/1/17  (Violations may be reported to the city via 311)
'In the effort to get buildings on board for recycling, the City Council passed a  new ordinance enforcing recycling in residential buildings with fines of non compliance; $500.00 to $1,000.00 -1st violation & $1,000.00 -$2,500.00 2nd violation (12-month period); $2,500.00 - $5,000.00 3rd & each subsequent violation occurring within 12 months of the most recent violation.   If reported in violation, the building must comply within 30 days, then fines will be assessed for noncompliance.

ReUseable Bags vs. Plastic Bags  A 7 cent tax on plastic/papers bags has passed Chicago City Council.  To be effective 2/1/17. Allocation: Five cents to the city and 2 cents to the stores
The City Council in December repealed the previous ordinance that went into effect in August 2015. i.e. big box stores and franchises greater than 10,000 square foot and part of a chain of 3 or more stores could not use thin plastic bags.  They were ok to provide thick reuseable plastic bags or paper. The ban extended to smaller chain stores in August 2016. Small independent or non-franchise stores and restaurants were exempt.  However, consumer behavior - bringing reuseable  bags when shopping - was not changed by much, so the City has moved to add a separate tax and continue to encourage re-useable shopping bags.  Effective 2/1/17.  
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International Update: Trump withdraws U.S. from Paris Accords
USA Today;  Opinion 6/1/17  "...Trump's abandonment of the Paris agreement, along with his other plans to roll back President Obama's vehicle efficiency standards and dismantle his Clean Power Plan to cut power plant emissions, will most likely make it impossible for the U.S. to reach even half the 26% reduction from 2005 levels that Obama promised America would reach by 2025..."
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2016
​ International: The Paris Accords formally ratified and effective 11/7/16.  (Sadly, the Trump Administration withdrew the United States from the Accords)
The aim of the convention is described in Article 2, "enhancing the implementation" of the UNFCCC through: "
     (a) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change;
     (b) Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production;
     (c) Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development."
​Countries furthermore aim to reach "global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible". The agreement has been described as an incentive for and driver of fossil fuel divestment. The Paris deal is the world's first comprehensive climate agreement.   132 Countries have agreed to the Accords  (e.g. U.S; China, India, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Norway,  European Union and many others)

Note:  Many cities have a plan to help meet the objectives.  Edgewater is working to educate the community on energy efficiency; clean air & water & renewable energy goals
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2015
City of Chicago Expands Composting Ordinance  The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Emanuel's ordinance to expand composting operations at community gardens and urban farms across Chicago, as well as create a citywide community garden registry and urban farm composting permit. The goal of the program is to expand the type of allowable compostable materials at both community gardens and urban farms, while implementing common sense measures to ensure public health standards are maintain