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Archive for the ‘Going green’ Category

THIRD ANNUAL CHICAGO DRIVES ELECTRIC DATES AND VEHICLE TEST DRIVE LINEUP ANNOUNCED

Posted in Education, Going green, Topics Of Interest on September 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of Chicago Drives Electric and the Chicago Auto Show, announced the dates for the 2024 Chicago Drives Electric EV outdoor consumer test drive and EV education event: Oct. 3-6, 2024.

The third annual Chicago Drives Electric ride-and-drive event will once again be held at the CATA’s headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, a centrally located site with plentiful entertainment and dining options in the area. The weekend-long event will offer the public a firsthand experience of the next generation of mobility while showcasing the latest all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicle lineup. Knowledgeable product specialists will be accessible to help consumers understand how EVs may fit individual needs and lifestyles and offer in-depth information about electric vehicle technology, the current charging infrastructure landscape and the environmental benefits of going electric. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to experience a variety of EVs ranging from luxury to mainstream.

“The fall Chicago Drives Electric event filled a void we originally didn’t realize how badly it existed, bringing much needed EV education to residents of the Chicagoland area,” said CATA President Jennifer Morand. “Whether you’re a seasoned EV enthusiast or new to the world of electric mobility, Chicago Drives Electric offers something for everyone to discover.”

The electrified vehicles available for test drives include:

  • Audi Q4 e-tron
  • Audi Q8 e-tron
  • BMW iX
  • BMW i4
  • BMW i5
  • BMW i7
  • Cadillac LYRIQ
  • Chevrolet Blazer EV RS
  • Chevrolet Equinox EV 2RS
  • Chevrolet Silverado EV RST
  • Ford F-150 Lightning
  • Ford Mach-e
  • GMC Hummer EV SUT
  • GMC Hummer EV SUV
  • GMC Sierra Denali EV
  • Hyundai IONIQ 5
  • Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited
  • Hyundai IONIQ 6
  • Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited
  • Kia EV6
  • Kia EV9
  • Kia Niro EV
  • Kia Sorento PHEV
  • Toyota bZ4X
  • Toyota Camry XLE
  • Toyota Prius Prime
  • Toyota RAV4 Prime
  • Volkswagen ID.4
  • Volvo EX90
  • Volvo C40 Recharge
  • Volvo XC40 Recharge

Cars.com and ComEd return to Chicago Drives Electric as premier sponsors of the event. Longtime Chicago Auto Show partner Cars.com will have experts on-hand throughout the duration of the weekend. ComEd will also have a presence onsite to answer questions about home charging, rebates and incentives and more. Powering Chicago will once again support Chicago Drives Electric as an official sponsor and resource to consumers looking for more information on home charging installation.

Attendees must pre-register for a timeslot; tickets and registration is now open at ChicagoDrivesElectric.com. Test drive slots are limited to first come, first served. Participants who plan to drive must have a valid driver’s license. The hours are as follows: Oct. 3 (2-6 p.m.) and Oct. 4-6 (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.).

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220 to install solar panels at Prairie, Station, and BHS

Posted in 220, Board of Education, Elections, Going green, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on September 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

At our Sept. 17th Board of Education meeting, we approved contracts to install solar panels at Prairie Campus, Station Campus, and Barrington High School this summer. While installing solar panels requires an initial financial investment from the district’s capital projects fund, it will help to greatly reduce energy costs long term

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Editorial: An electricity crisis is looming for Illinois. Is anybody paying attention in Springfield?

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Going green, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Scott Stantis, Springfield, Topics Of Interest, Unions on September 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis on Gov. JB Pritzker and energy shortages for Wed, Sept 17, 2024. (Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune)

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD | Chicago Tribune

In 2021, Illinois enacted a comprehensive clean energy law mandating the closure of all coal- and natural gas-fired power plants by 2045. As part of the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act, one of Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature legislative accomplishments, a large number of gas-fired facilities were to be shuttered by 2030.

At the time, there were warnings from industry and others that the intermediate 2030 mandate would jeopardize electricity reliability in the state. With Illinois then producing more power than it consumed, Pritzker and the many environmental groups that backed the law said such predictions were alarmist and off-base.

Just three years later, it appears the alarmists were right, and Pritzker and the green lobby were wrong.

Payments to power generators in return for their promise to produce to their capacity when demand is highest — as established via an auction overseen by PJM Interconnection, the grid manager for a large swath of the U.S. from northern Illinois to the mid-Atlantic — are set to soar more than 800% and will raise all our electric bills beginning next June.

That charge is embedded in the rates users pay for power and is in addition to the cost for the electricity itself. In effect, it is akin to an insurance premium — in this case, a payment each month to plant owners for their promise to deliver when the need arises.

In the northern Illinois territory served by Commonwealth Edison, average residential electric bills will increase by $15 per month beginning in June due to this effect alone, according to ComEd. That increase will be significantly more pronounced for single-family homes, since ComEd’s averages are skewed lower than in less urban areas by the large number of Chicago apartment dwellers it serves. (The blow will be softened a bit due to a ratepayer credit under state law of nearly $4.35 per month from nuclear operator Constellation Energy Group.) All told, even after that credit, ComEd residential bills will rise by about 10.5% due to this charge alone — and that’s before a possible ComEd power delivery rate hike.

Get prepared for worse beginning in mid-2026.

Wall Street firm Morgan Stanley projects this insurance-like charge could be up to 2,200% higher than it is today, inflating average monthly ComEd residential bills by more than $35 compared with current charges. We’ll know how bad the damage is in December when PJM conducts its power-generator auction for the year from June 2026 to May 2027.

The unprecedented spike in these “capacity” charges isn’t an accident. Simple supply-and-demand realities are the reason. Many fossil fuel power plants have closed in recent years, because of environmental rules and market conditions. And the growth in renewable power facilities such as wind and solar isn’t making up enough of the difference.

The problems are not limited to northern Illinois. Central and southern Illinois, which fall under the purview of multi-state grid manager Midcontinent Independent System Operator, will be about 50% short of the capacity to keep the lights on during highest-demand periods as soon as 2027, according to MISO. That situation should be ringing alarm bells.

The shortage issue isn’t as dire in northern Illinois. But the 2030 plant-closure mandates in Illinois’ clean energy law, if unchanged, will threaten reliability during peak periods by 2030 in the Chicago area, according to PJM.

But the crisis could be upon northern Illinois even faster than that, because future demand is projected to soar even as supply falls.

Read more here.

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Shampoo bottles, telehealth, property taxes in over 275 new Illinois laws

Posted in Clown Car, Commodius Maximus, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Ethics, Going green, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Topics Of Interest, Unions on September 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed over 275 bills into law recently. Here is what you need to know about changes to taxes, hotel shampoo, light bulbs and virtual health care.

By Joe Tabor | Illinois Policy Institute

llinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker just signed over 275 bills into law on subjects ranging from occupational licensing to taxes to hotel shampoo bottles.

Here’s what you should know about some of the bills signed into law during August.

Taxes

Pritzker signed a bill that would eliminate the grocery tax, two property tax bills that fail to promise real relief and one bill that expands sales taxes to out-of-state business shipping products to Illinois.

House Bill 3144 ends the statewide 1% grocery tax, joining the 37 states that do not impose a tax on groceries. However, municipalities will be able to impose a local grocery tax by ordinance without first asking voters. Some cities are already doing so.

Senate Bill 2936 would allow municipal governments to reduce property taxes for newly remodeled single-family residences up to the value of the alteration.

Senate Bill 3455 commissions the Illinois Department of Revenue to study the entire property tax system in the state, including a comprehensive review of assessments, collections, exemptions and the tax levies themselves.

Neither SB 2936 nor SB 3455 would actually reduce the overall property tax burden. Neither deals with the No. 1 driver of property taxes: overpromised public pensions.

Senate Bill 3362 expands the reach of local retail taxes by requiring businesses outside of Illinois that ship tangible personal property to customers in Illinois to collect the local sales tax in addition to the state tax.

Employment

Pritzker signed two bills addressing jobs programs in the state.

Senate Bill 2907 requires the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to publish a report on all state and federally funded job training and workforce development programs to “identify successful programs, areas for improvement, and potential areas of duplication or overlap in order to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of State and federally funded job training and workforce development efforts.”

Senate Bill 3155 gives DCEO discretion not to require businesses that failed to maintain the minimum employment numbers from March 2020 to the beginning of 2024 to repay tax credits. This bill is likely meant to allow some latitude to employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but giving the final decision to DCEO means the department will be picking the winners and losers.

Read more here.

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Illinois bans fluorescent lighting beginning in 2026

Posted in Fat Bastard, Going green, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Unions, WTF on September 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Starting in 2026, you won’t be buying any compact fluorescent light bulbs to replace that burned out one in Illinois. Tubes go away in 2027. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is banning the same light bulbs Illinois’ former senator and president championed 15 years ago.

By Dylan Sharkey | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois is banning fluorescent light bulbs in 2026. This government mandate replaces the old government mandate about how we light our homes and businesses.

The Clean Lighting Act changes language in the Illinois Environmental Protection Act prohibiting mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs. The law starts with a partial ban in 2026 which applies to the production or sale of screw-based or bayonet-based compact fluorescent lamps.

The law takes full effect in 2027 and extends to pin-base compact fluorescent lights and fluorescent tubes. Fluorescent bulbs already in use will be allowed but will have to be replaced with LED bulbs when they burn out.

Exceptions for the ban for include medical uses, academic research, headlights on vehicles manufactured before 2020 and other exceptions.

Proponents argued 3 in 4 bulbs are improperly disposed of and release mercury and other toxins. Opponents of the bill argued the conversion will cost businesses the most.

Illinois is the 10th state to impose the fluorescent light ban.

More here.

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McLaughlin Hosting Fall Shredding and R/x Drop-Off Saturday

Posted in Going green, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest on September 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

We are hosting our annual Prescription Drug Drop Off & Shred Event this Saturday, September 7th, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.! 

This free event for residents is located at my District Office – 28662 W. Northwest Highway in Lake Barrington (Just West of the Kelsey Road House). Turn right onto Hillview Avenue and then right into our parking lot. You don’t even need to get out of your car!

Do good for your neighbors and the environment by keeping prescription medications out of our aquifers which supply drinking water to most of our homes.

Note: We will try to accommodate all your shredding needs until the truck is full!  

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Home & garden calendar, Sept. 1-7

Posted in Going green, Topics Of Interest on September 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Illinois Mycological Association Display & Sale will take place Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

Sept. 1

Illinois Mycological Association Display and Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. The show celebrates the richness of fall mushrooms in Illinois. Exhibits 50 to 100 varieties of mushrooms foraged from area forests in the days prior to the show. Members of the Illinois Mycological Association provide information and answer questions regarding mushrooms and fungi. Mushroom-related books, T-shirts and other items are for sale. Garden admission. For information, chicagobotanic.org.

Sept. 3

Join the Garden Club of Lake Zurich on Tuesday, Sept. 3 for the presentation, “Owls of Lake County.” | Courtesy of the Stillman Nature Center

Garden Club of Lake Zurich — Owls: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Join the Garden Club of Lake Zurich for a program on “Owls of Lake County.” Learn how specialized feathers, beaks and talons help owls rule the food chain. The life of owls will be discussed along with their importance to our environment. Get a close-up look at local owl skins. Guests welcome; refreshments served. For information, gardencluboflakezurich.org.

Sept. 4

Growing Shiitake Mushrooms with Hunter LeDuc: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St., Sycamore. The shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia that is used in many dishes across the world. Explore the history and various methods of shiitake cultivation that can also be applied to other species including oyster mushrooms, lion’s mane and more. Free. Register at sycamorelibrary.org.

Sept. 5

South Barrington Garden Club, “Incredible Bats”: 9 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month, South Barrington Tennis Club, 3 Tennis Club Lane, South Barrington. Meetings generally consist of speakers, hands-on projects and bus trips to points of interest in the area followed by a lunch at a local restaurant. For information, sbgclub.org.

Learn how roses can easily be a thriving and beautiful addition to your garden at the Thursday, Sept. 5 meeting of the Hoffman Estates Garden Club. | The Associated Press

Hoffman Estates Garden Club — Growing Roses: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Think growing roses is too difficult or time consuming? Then join the Hoffman Estates Garden Club to learn how roses can easily be a thriving and beautiful addition to your garden. Presented by Jackie Kosbab, Rose Garden curator and senior horticulturist at Cantigny. Presentation begins after a short business meeting. Nonmembers are welcome. For information, hoffmanestatesgardenclub.com.

Saving Flower and Vegetable Seeds: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 W. Paddock St., Crystal Lake. Saving seeds from both flowers and vegetables is easy once you know the techniques. Join Master Gardener Rich Tobiasz as he walks you through pollination, fertilization and the steps you need to take to collect and preserve those seeds for years to come. Free. Register at (815) 459-1687 or crystallake.librarycalendar.com.

Sept. 7

Go Green Winnetka- Fall Native Plant Sale: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Indian Hill Park, 131 Wilson Street, Winnetka. This year, the sale offers more than 40 varieties of native plants that bring beauty and ecological benefits to your garden. Native plants aren’t just resilient; they’re the true champions of local ecosystems. These plants attract pollinators, enhance stormwater management and thrive with minimal fuss in our Midwest climate. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious newcomer, native plant experts will be on hand to guide you in choosing the perfect additions for your garden. For information, gogreenwinnetka.org.

More here.

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Keep the growing season alive with fall Four Seasons Gardening webinars

Posted in Education, Going green, Topics Of Interest on August 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

By Jenna Braasch, Illinois Extension

While gardens are winding down, keep the growing going as the fall season arrives with the “Four Seasons Gardening” webinar series beginning Sept. 10.

Fall sessions explore landscape design, help people discover the added benefits of engaging with nature, and discover everything needed to build a winter terrarium.

University of Illinois Extension horticulture experts will present tips and how-to’s and answer questions about each monthly topic. Sessions are free and presented live online beginning at 1:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays. Registration is required.

Extension Educators Emily Swihart and Bruce Black will lead the fall series.  Find more information and sign up for sessions at go.illinois.edu/FourSeasons.

Upcoming “Four Seasons Gardening” fall sessions include:

Design Stunning, Personalized Landscapes | Sept. 10

Learn how to start with the basics of landscape design to create a beautiful and functional outdoor space. Participants will gain a foundational knowledge of landscape design principles, explore design styles, and acquire the confidence to begin personalizing a landscape.

Discover the Benefits of Engaging with Nature | Oct. 8

In a culture increasingly dominated by technology and highly manipulated landscapes, connecting with nature can seem impossible. Explore what we are missing when we lose our connection to nature and gain inspiration that will help to prioritize nature connections, even as winter approaches and day lengths shorten.

Create Winter Terrariums | Nov. 12

Terrariums are wonderful accents for a home all year round, especially during the holidays and into winter. Live plants in a terrarium add color and serve as a reminder that spring is not far away. Participants will explore terrarium basics and plant choices in more detail. Learn the steps to make gumball machine terrariums for your home or to give to others as a handmade gift.

Can’t make a session? Every program is recorded and available on the Illinois Extension Horticulture YouTube channel. Videos are available about two weeks after the live program.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact the coordinator by session: Personalized Landscapes, Nancy Kreith, kreith@illinois.edu; Engaging with Nature, Gemini Bhalsod at gbhalsod@illinois.edu; and Create Terrariums, Andrew Holsinger at aholsing@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.

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Hoffman Estates holding electronic recycling and document destruction event Saturday

Posted in Going green, Hoffman Estates on August 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

SWANCC

The village of Hoffman Estates, in partnership with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), is hosting its free annual recycling drop-off and document destruction event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 24 at village hall, 1900 Hassell Road.

This free event is for SWANCC residents only; no business materials will be accepted.

Find a list of SWANCC member communities on its website.

Accepted electronic materials include cell phones, computer components, MP3 players, fax machines, televisions, satellite receivers and more.

To prepare for a document destruction event, paper must be dry, clean, and loose; clips, sleeves and binders should be removed; paper must be in no more than six paper shopping bags or cardboard boxes.

The village also will accept textiles and small household goods, expired sharps and medications, fluorescent and CFL light bulbs, batteries, printer cartridges, latex (water-based) paint, quart containers for $2.99, gallon containers for $5.99, and five-gallon buckets for $19.99.

Visit the village’s website for more information.

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Special Zoning Board of Appeals meeting scheduled Tuesday

Posted in Animal Welfare, BOHICA, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), ePacket agendas, FUBAR, Goat Rodeo, Going green, Land Use, New Normal?, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Hearing, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, Taxes, TMI, Topics Of Interest, Village Attorney, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Well Water Quality, WTF, Zoning Board on August 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

You TOO could have (or live next to) a property like this one soon if “Agritourism” Special Use is allowed. Learn how in the Zoning Board’s agenda.

Our Zoning Board of Appeals will be holding a special meeting tomorrow evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

Public hearing

  • Text Amendment to Section 5-5-3(A) Special Uses, R1 District of the Zoning Ordinance to include in the list of Special Uses, Agritourism, filed by Chris Yamamoto

Public meeting

  • [Vote] Text Amendment to Section 5-5-3(A) Special Uses, R1 District of the Zoning Ordinance to include in the list of Special Uses, Agritourism, filed by Chris Yamamoto
  • Code Modification Discussion – Renewable Energy

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

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