This Month Across the Midwest

March 2025 Newsletter

ELPC Stands Firm in Our Mission to Protect the Midwest’s Environment
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Over the past few weeks, we have seen the Trump administration dismantle environmental protections and the public agencies that safeguard clean air and water, climate action, and public health across the country. It is in times like these that we must stick to our values and uphold the rule of law. ELPC will continue working hard and effectively to protect healthy clean air for people to breathe, safe clean drinking water for people to drink, and the right of people to live without toxic threats.

Our focused five-point strategic post-election plan is fully underway. We will continue working toward a cleaner and safer future by defending against any misguided federal rollbacks of core environmental safeguards and by going on the offense in the Midwest states to achieve more environmental progress.

CLEAN ENERGY
Xcel IRP Settlement Enhances Local Clean Energy
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The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a plan for Xcel Energy’s future energy needs that emphasizes distributed renewables, batteries, and customer savings. ELPC worked with Vote Solar, Cooperative Energy Futures, and the Institute for Local Self Reliance on this good outcome.


CLEAN WATER
Update on Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel State Court Appeal
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The Michigan Court of Appeals declined to reverse the Public Service Commission's approval for the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline tunnel through the Straits of Mackinac. ELPC and our many environmental group and Tribal nation co-parties are very disappointed and are considering next steps to protect the Great Lakes.

ELPC Urges Senate to Pass Reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
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The Michigan Court of Appeals declined to reverse the Public Service Commission's approval for the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline tunnel through the Straits of Mackinac. ELPC and our many environmental group and Tribal nation co-parties are very disappointed and are considering next steps to protect the Great Lakes

NEWS ROUND-UP
* Toledo Blade: Former NOAA Administrator Says the Great Lakes Region Will Feel Impact of Layoffs [[link removed]]
* Chicago Tribune: Federal Funding Freeze Lifted for Some Illinois Clean Energy Projects [[link removed]]
* Daily Herald: ‘Instability in the Market’ or Rightsizing? What Does Federal EV Cold Shoulder Mean for Illinois? [[link removed]]
* Bridge Michigan : Opinion: Look to Rooftops, Brownfields, Policy Reforms to Capture Solar Savings [[link removed]]
* E&E News : Late for School: Trump’s Funding Freeze Halts E-Bus Delivery [[link removed]]
* Des Moines Register : MidAmerican Energy Proposes Building $600 Million Gas Plant, 800 Megawatts of Solar [[link removed]]
* Michigan Advance : Line 5 Opponents Outline Expectations Under the Trump Administration Amid Ongoing Court Cases [[link removed]]
* The Cleveland Plain Dealer : Energy Bill Signals Ohio is ‘Open for Business,” Natural Gas, Nuclear Lobbyists Say [[link removed]]
* Associated Press : Farmers and Rural Businesses Shelled Out Money for Improvements. Will Their Promised Rebates Arrive? [[link removed]]
* ELPC Blog : Chicago School Using Trees to Protect Students from Air Pollution [[link removed]]
* The Indiana Lawyer : Attorneys Try to Sort Out What Trump’s Policies Will Mean for the Environment [[link removed]]
* Toledo Blade : Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Reauthorization Bill Now in U.S. Senate, Too [[link removed]]
* Chicago Tribune : Trump, Musk Move to Oust EPA staff in the Great Lakes Region, Including Dozens Responsible for Protecting Drinking Water for 30 Million in U.S. and Canada [[link removed]]
* Northwest Indiana Times : Environmental Advocates Cheer Changes to EC Waste Processor’s State Permit [[link removed]]
* CBS News : Electric Vehicles Take the Driver’s Seat at 2025 Chicago Auto Show [[link removed]]


We're all in to protect the Midwest environment
Founded in 1993, the Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest's leading environmental legal advocacy organization. We advocate, innovate, and litigate to protect the Midwest's environment from the Great Lakes to the Great Plains.

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ELPC
35 E Wacker Dr 1600
Chicago, IL 60601
United States
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