and join us for our Virtual Gala on Thursday! 

September 2020 E-News

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Join us for our digital soiree this Thursday, September 10
with featured speakers Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and special musical performances by Corky Siegel.

Registration is free and all are welcome.

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The fight to clean up ozone continues: ELPC testifies before EPA ([link removed])
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ELPC staff attorney Ann Jaworski testified before the US Environmental Protection Agency on August 31 during its public hearing on its recent proposal to leave in place existing ozone air pollution standards. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review the ozone standard every five years to determine, based on the most up-to-date science, whether the standard is still “requisite to protect the public health” with “an adequate margin of safety,” and “requisite to protect the public welfare” from pollution’s environmental effects. Unfortunately, EPA’s latest 2020 proposal is troubling for two reasons. First, the science shows that the existing standard is not protective enough. Second, the process that led to this proposal was flawed. In one of the hottest years on record, the number of unhealthy ozone days in Chicago exceeded last year within the first few weeks of summer, exacerbating our public health crisis in the heart of the Midwest. ELPC will continue to speak out and fight for clean air.
ELPC Calls for Value of Solar Study in Michigan Rate Case ([link removed])
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ELPC and fellow intervenors Ecology Center, Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, Solar Energy Industries Association, and Vote Solar submitted briefs in the Consumers Energy rate case today, calling on the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to conduct a Value of Solar study to determine a fair, statewide rate for energy that customer-owned solar systems provide the electric grid. “If Consumers Energy truly believes in Michigan’s clean energy future, it must empower its customers to unleash solar. A Value of Solar study is a critical step toward that clean energy future, and one that states as diverse as Nevada, Maine and Mississippi have already taken,” said ELPC Staff Attorney Nikhil Vijaykar. “If Michigan wants to be competitive in a sector that can cut ratepayers’ bills while creating local jobs, the MPSC needs to act now.” Read our coalition factsheet here ([link removed]) or more media coverage
here ([link removed]) .
Midwestern leaders concerned about threats to the Upper Mississippi Refuge ([link removed])
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ELPC has been fighting to protect the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge and the scenic Driftless Area of Southwest Wisconsin for some time now. The proposed Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line would cut a wide swath through this wild and natural haven, with damaging impacts on tourism, ecosystem vitality, and the natural scenic beauty of the area. Members of Congress have also engaged to raise concerns about the transmission line, including its impacts on the Refuge. Read Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth’s letter ([link removed]) to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Read Wisconsin Representative Ron Kind’s letter ([link removed]) to the USFWS and his letter ([link removed]) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Read Wisconsin Senator Tammy
Baldwin’s letter ([link removed]) to USFWS & the USDA Rural Utilities Service.

Illinois needs energy transparency to emerge from Exelon scandal ([link removed])
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After a wave of bribery admissions this year, now Illinois’ Exelon is demanding more subsidies, or threatening to close the Dresden and Byron nuclear plants. We’ve seen this Exelon rate hike and hostage-taking script several times before. Now, Exelon is back again asking for more money amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Exelon should open its books for independent review as the Governor has called for. When it comes to the huge consumer subsidies that Exelon is requesting, let’s look at whether Illinois jobs, our economy and our environment would be better off if those billions of dollars were invested in solar energy and storage, wind power and energy efficiency, which saves consumers money.
ELPC NEWS CENTER
Cleveland.com Op-Ed: Larry Householder vs. your household – HB 6’s hidden costs ([link removed])
Chicago Tribune: Without another bailout, Exelon plans to close two Illinois nuclear plants next year ([link removed])
MLive: Michigan environmental groups support state in animal waste debate ([link removed])
Energy News Network: Murray Energy’s limited disclosures on Ohio conspiracy case leave big questions unanswered ([link removed])
Energy News Network: Illinoisans demand stricter coal ash rules, denounce estate proposal ([link removed])
Post-Tribune: ArcelorMittal told to fix issues with environmental monitoring a year after toxic fish kill ([link removed])
AP: Environmental group says Indiana mill exceeded toxicity gap ([link removed])

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