UPDATES

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…

Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB 2988 Friday, clarifying current law around zoning standards for wind energy development across the state. The new law will create jobs, revitalize communities with new investment in rural areas — including tens of millions of dollars in annual payments directly to landowners and farmers and hundreds of millions of dollars…

By Pastor Scott Onque, Letter to the Editor This week is Holy Week in the Christian faith and Passover in the Jewish faith. As a pastor, this is a big week. This year, my focus is to bring the light of faith and action to the crucial issue of our environment and how we interact…

By Greer Domina There are hopeful signs that enough actions are now being undertaken that will save the earth from the worst destruction which can be caused by climate change. Washington, D.C., and 29 states now have requirements that the electric companies in their states deliver “a certain amount of electricity from renewable or other…

By Rachel Rodgers DIXON – Big Sky Wind will be the second wind farm in Lee County to get a second wind. BSW DevCo LLC petitioned the county for a special use permit to decommission its 58 turbines in Lee County and replace up to 51 with upgraded models. Last week, the Lee County Zoning…

By Jerry Nowicki | Benton News SPRINGFIELD — The state’s various energy industries all had their say at a pair of House committee hearings Tuesday in which three widely discussed energy bills advanced with their sponsors promising further negotiations. By the end of the spring legislative session, all three bills — Democratic Elwood Rep. Larry…