Watch the story of our victory on behalf of clients Alliance of the Southeast and Friends of the Parks to stop a 25-foot-high toxic waste dump on the shore of Lake Michigan on Chicago’s Southeast side. That toxic dump will now become a new park for all to enjoy. This victory shows how ELPC works from start to finish.
Recent news on the federal side is challenging, but we don’t back down from a fight. The Trump EPA is working to undo several longstanding water protections. By changing the definition of “Waters of the United States,” many waterways and wetlands would no longer be protected under federal law. Rolling back Section 401 of the Clean Water Act would undercut state authority to review and veto federal projects that harm water quality, limiting public accountability and shifting power away from local communities facing pollution. ELPC and our partners are fighting back in testimony, coalition efforts, and legal action to protect clean water.
That makes our state work more important than ever! We're advocating for new Illinois wetlands legislation to fill the gaps created at the federal level. After the first Trump administration attempted to zero-out funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), ELPC and partners stepped up to build bipartisan support. This year, GLRI legislation moving through Congress should provide full funding.
After the Trump administration’s Department of Energy forced Indiana coal plants to stay open past their planned retirements, at great cost, ELPC and partners took them to court. This is part of Donald Trump’s attempt to bolster the flailing coal industry at the expense of everyday customers.
The explosive growth of data centers is transforming the Midwest energy sector. We’re fighting to make sure they pay their fair share and help drive clean energy investment. The Illinois Commerce Commission is weighing changes to ComEd’s rate structure, while lawmakers are drafting legislation to establish long-term rules. Together, these decisions will shape Illinois’ clean energy goals, grid reliability, and electricity costs for years to come.
The four-state Driftless Area is the Midwest’s most biologically rich landscape, containing the largest continuous fish and wildlife habitat in the region. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at preserving and restoring the area, which spans parts of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Events
ELPC Thinks: Reimagining Chicago’s Intercity Bus Station
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.
