This Month Across the Midwest: June 2024 Newsletter
1. Midwest Awarded nearly 600 New Electric School Buses
In the latest round of funding from the Clean School Bus Program, US EPA awarded nearly 600 electric school buses to districts in seven Midwestern states. ELPC has been a leader on electric school buses for years, helping show the benefits of clean air and municipal cost savings for political leaders and school communities across the region.
We have pushed for funding from several sources to help schools make the switch, and the EPA’s Clean School Bus program is the biggest opportunity yet. A total of 3,400 school buses were awarded to 530 school districts nationwide, including 86 Midwestern communities such as Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, St. Paul, Springfield, and the Menominee Nation. Electric buses are good for the environment and will reduce children’s exposure to harmful diesel fumes which contribute to asthma and other lung-related diseases.
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2. Celebrating with Governor Pritzker & Several Hundred Friends at ELPC’s 2024 Gala
Overlooking Lake Michigan, ELPC staff and supporters gathered at Navy Pier’s Offshore rooftop venue for our 2024 Gala. We had a fantastic time sharing ELPC’s work to protect our Great lakes and improve the Midwest’s environment. Thank you to all who joined us!
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3. Environmental Groups Call out MidAmerican Energy for Misleading the Public in Iowa
ELPC and Iowa Environmental Council called on the Iowa Utilities Board to rescind outdated rules that mislead the public about clean energy. Despite MidAmerican's claims of delivering 100% renewable energy, the company operates six coal plants in Iowa. These rules provide legitimacy to such misleading statements, and must bea updated to reflect current clean energy goals.
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4. ELPC Advances New Opportunities for Retired Coal Plant Sites in Michigan
Retiring coal plants – once thought of as industrial eyesores – now stand as canvasses for the creation of new greenways, parklands, wildlife habitat, and clean energy development. ELPC’s Powerplants to Parklands initiative is pursuing sustainable opportunities across Michigan.
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5. Illinois Legislative Session Wraps Up Without Wetlands Protection
Since the misguided U.S. Supreme Court Sackett decision diminished federal wetlands protections, it falls to the states to step up. We have been leading a coalition effort to pass wetlands protection in Springfield. We’ve made progress but unfortunately, the legislation stalled this year. We are not giving up and we’ll go back to the legislature to get this important legislation passed.
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