January 2020 E News
ELPC and Hoosier Environmental Council are in active litigation against ArcelorMittal for their cyanide and ammonia spill in August 2019 and the more than 100 Clean Water Act permit violations uncovered since 2015. ArcelorMittal must be held fully accountable for its pollution that harms local communities, Indiana Dunes National Park and the aquatic life and ecosystem of Lake Michigan. Just this week, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management released a report showing ArcelorMittal manipulated test results about the amount of toxic chemicals they have released into Lake Michigan. These actions show that the corporation is apparently trying to conceal its dangerous chemical spills rather than fix them. It is clear that legal action is needed to hold this serial polluter fully accountable. More coverage in CBS2, Chicago Tribune, and Northwest Indiana Times.
Our new Wisconsin Clean Energy Business Supply Chain report identifies 354 companies in Wisconsin that are engaged in the clean energy industry supply chain. The report shows that these businesses exist in every Wisconsin Congressional and State Senate District and in 93 of the 99 State Assembly Districts The good news is that Wisconsin can do even better and enjoy even more jobs and businesses by adopting better, proven policies. A robust and stable policy framework will accelerate solar power, energy storage, and wind power resources. Download the report to learn more.
Bankers understand finance, money and good investments. So, when community banks step up to install solar panels on their buildings and in their parking lots, that’s a strong signal that renewable energy is both good for business and good for the environment. “The climate crisis forces you to take some action and seize opportunities,” says Decorah Bank CEO Ben Grimstad. “In the case of the bank, the opportunity is to encourage people to develop renewable energy – and we’ll loan you the money to do it.” Read more on community banks in solar in Howard Learner’s Op-Eds in the Des Moines Register and Bismarck Tribune.
We had a busy 2019 standing up to the Trump Administration and their continued rollback of environmental safeguards, but we're ready to face the challenges that await us in 2020. Heading into this new year, we’ll continue to fight for cleaner air, cleaner cars, and safe, clean drinking water in the Midwest. We’ll also work to protect the sound science and public participation when it comes to setting pollution standards that impact public health. We’ll need your help to fight back and be inviting our members to raise their voices with us so stay tuned!
In our on-going efforts to stop the unnecessary Cardinal-Hickory Creek high voltage transmission line, we have taken that fight to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The current proposed route would cross the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge near Cassville, Wisconsin and would require the clear-cutting of an entirely new 260-foot wide right of way through an important restoration area, would have higher-voltage lines, and would cross the Mississippi river about 1.5 miles north of the existing line. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has claimed that this is a “minor realignment” through this important Refuge, which it clearly is not. It is illegal and contrary to the purpose of gradually eliminating infrastructure that interferes with the Refuge system’s purpose of protecting wildlife. ELPC submitted comments on behalf of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and was joined by the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Defenders of Wildlife.
ELPC NEWS CENTER
ELPC Blog: Censoring Science at the EPA Threatens Public Health
Chicago Sun-Times: Balmy Christmas highlights looming impact of climate change on Great Lakes
Energy News Network: Michigan advocates fear federal rule changes will shut out solar developers
Wisconsin State Journal: Border Battles: When it comes to clean energy, Minnesota outshines Wisconsin
Great Lakes Now: Groups call on Michigan governor to lead on key great lakes issues
Crain’s Detroit: Administrative law judge criticizes DTE’s proposed energy plan
Akron Beacon Journal: Livestock permits continue amid Lake Erie algae blooms
Chicago Tribune: It’ll be years before most Chicagoans get an electric bus on their route. Here’s why it’s taking so long
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