UPDATES

By Kevin Schwaller SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -– The Illinois House of Representatives and Senate have voted to pass a bill to allow public universities and state agencies to enter into renewable energy contracts for up to 25 years. The House on Tuesday passed a bill by a 108-8 vote to allow public universities and state agencies…

By Tom Emery CARLINVILLE – Optimism for the future abounds this week after Blackburn College broke ground on a state-of-the-art solar project. The $3 million, 2-megawatt solar array — which will be constructed on 8 acres of the northern part of the Blackburn campus — is expected to provide more than 80% of the school’s…

Lottery will boost state’s production, but more must be done to help community projects by Sauk Valley Editorial Board Solar power in Illinois took a big step forward with the Illinois Power Agency’s lottery held April 10 to award renewable energy credits to companies looking to bring their clean energy projects to the state. Whiteside…

By Rachel Rodgers More than a dozen solar farm projects in the area were picked during the first round of a state lottery for renewable energy credits, with the majority located in Whiteside County. The state’s Future Energy Jobs Act, which was created in late 2016 and requires utility companies to get 25 percent of…

By Sun-Times Editorial Board Any energy legislation that is passed by the Illinois Legislature this spring must do one thing above all: keep the lid on the price of electricity for average people. As water and natural gas prices have jumped in recent years, we have witnessed the trauma of huge numbers of people falling…

by Silvio Marcacci “… Green jobs grow in red states But the best aspect of renewable energy job growth is that it doesn’t matter how states voted in the last election. The American Wind Energy Association identifies wind farms and manufacturing facilities in all 50 statesand 69% of congressional districts (78% of GOP districts, 62% of Democratic…

by Katie Finlon SYCAMORE – One of two of the most contentious solar projects approved in DeKalb County is among the projects that were awarded renewable energy credits by the Illinois Power Agency. The 2-megawatt community solar energy project came from U.S. Solar and is proposed to be built by Airport and Bethany roads in…

by WICS/WCCU Staff CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WICS/WCCU) — University of Illinois is looking to save money by installing new solar panels. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Gies College of Business are setting up a brand new solar array on the fourth floor addition of the Business Instructional Facility (BIF). Construction is scheduled to be complete by…

By Elizabeth Scrafford Spring rains this year are bringing high floodwaters to the Metro East once again, reminding us that our climate is changing before our eyes. Floodwaters worry farmers because it is planting season, concern home and business owners who may or may not be able to save their investments, and trouble everyone else…