The scientific consensus has been clear for decades: climate pollution puts people’s health in danger. Last week, the Trump EPA moved to revoke its own ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by rescinding the endangerment finding. By trying to reject that basic reality, the EPA would have no legal basis to regulate greenhouse gases, such as the standards for cleaner light- medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
For many years, federal rules have required carmakers to reduce the pollution that comes out of tailpipes to save us money while improving our air. Obliterating these standards will mean dirtier cars, higher prices at the pump, and fewer incentives for manufacturing zero-emissions cars and trucks. It will also mean more air pollution and make it harder for cities and states to clean up the air. ELPC will challenge the EPA’s misguided actions. We will first engage before EPA in its regulatory process and then go to court if necessary to reverse the EPA’s damaging actions.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation to increase protections in the Shawnee National Forest, after years of advocacy from ELPC and partners. Three new special management areas would prevent commercial extraction while allowing for active management, and a new wilderness area would provide the strongest federal protections.
Portions of the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, are about to see higher electric rates, driven by the rapid growth of power-hungry data centers. ELPC is calling on lawmakers and grid operators to do more to support distributed energy resources, efficiency, and demand response to ease pressure on the grid and lower costs.
This month, nine public advocacy groups filed a response to the Trump administration’s unlawful and unreasonable extension of the Michigan J.H. Campbell plant. Keeping the unnecessary plant online past its retirement cost $29 million in the first five weeks. ELPC is fighting to ensure that Midwestern consumers are not stuck paying this bill for an unneeded coal plant.
After the Pacific Legal Foundation sought to dismantle the “Swampbuster” program earlier this year, ELPC and clean water advocates stepped up to defend farmers and wetlands, and a federal judge ruled in our favor. The Foundation missed its appeal deadline in late July, so the court decision is final. This is a big win for healthy farms and ecosystems.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to repeal critical federal standards that limit greenhouse gas pollution from fossil fuel power plants like coal- and gas-fired plants. These rules are essential to curbing climate change and protecting public health. Submit your public comment today!
If We Want Clean Energy, Then We Need Clean Government
In conversation with ELPC CEO & Executive Director Howard Learner, author Dick Munson discusses his new book, Power Corrupts: Cleaning Up America’s Biggest Industry.
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.
