The Illinois Environmental Council

10/19/2026

What more can data centers take from our communities?

Data centers are draining our energy and our drinking water, all while increasing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels. We can’t sit back and let Big Tech drain our resources and our sanity.

📣 It’s time to get louder than Big Tech companies and fight back! Tell your lawmakers to support the POWER Act: https://act.ilenviro.org/a/poweractveto

10/16/2026

📢 You’re invited: Pollution Action Summit: Our Health, Our Choice, Our City 🌱

How do environmental factors impact public health in our communities, and what collective choices can we make to drive lasting change?

Join our friends at Chicago Environmental Justice Network, fellow community members and advocates, and expert speakers at the UIC School of Public Health for an important, FREE in-person conversation on cumulative impacts, environmental justice, and local health action. Together, we’ll explore how environmental factors shape our health and discuss actionable steps to build a healthier city for everyone.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
📍 Location: UIC School of Public Health (1603 W Taylor St., Chicago, IL)
⏰ Schedule:
- 5:30 PM | Doors Open & Check-In
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Presentation & Engagement Session

🎟️ Cost: FREE (Registration required)
Your voice and perspective are essential to shaping our city’s future. Reserve your spot today!

RSVP ➡️
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pollution-action-summit-our-health-our-choice-our-city-tickets-2002584898339

10/14/2026

Pretty cool to think the secret to decarbonization is right beneath our feet, eh? 🌇🇨🇦⚡️

We toured Vancouver to see how Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) are transforming housing, lowering emissions, and putting skilled trades to work.

State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Senator Omar Aquino, State Rep Theresa Mah, and candidate for State Senate Patrick Hanley and our partners in organized labor including Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting, LIUNA, Climate Jobs Illinois, Local 18007 Gasworkers Chicago , IUOE Local 150, and the Chicago Federation of Labor traveled all the way to Canada with us to learn about this ingenious way of heating and cooling buildings.

Want to learn even more?! Read our blog ➡️ https://ilenviro.org/building-a-clean-heat-pipeline/

10/09/2026

Chicago is one step closer to being more sustainable! 🌎
IEC and our partners in the Coalition for Plastic Reduction are excited to see the committee passage of a new ordinance championed by Alderperson Matt Martin. This ordinance would begin shifting City Departments away from purchasing toxic polystyrene foam foodware and toward safe, more environmentally conscious alternatives 🍽️. By shifting procurement practices, Chicago can begin reducing unnecessary single‑use plastics at the source. The ordinance heads to the full City Council for a vote on 10/14.

10/08/2026

Curious about the quality of your indoor air?? Through Faith in Place's AirAware project, volunteers found health-harming pollution indoors at levels exceeding outdoor standards near gas-burning equipment. Read more in Chicago Tribune:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/01/opinion-chicago-indoor-air-quality-testing

Many residents knew carbon monoxide could be dangerous at high levels. But far fewer knew about the health risks posed by nitrogen dioxide.

10/07/2026

That’s a wrap on our 2026 Environmental Leadership Dinner! 🌅
Thank you to everyone who made our dinner an absolute success! Whether you were in the room, bidding on silent auction items, or supporting IEC from afar, your energy, generosity and environmental passion are what make our work possible.
Let’s keep this momentum going! 🌎

10/01/2026

There are new energy vampires in town, and they are sucking the life right out of our communities and electric grid. ⚡️

In Joliet, a data center approved this March will use enough energy to power HALF of Chicago every single hour. These energy vampires are creeping closer to home, draining our grid, polluting our air, straining our water supply, and threatening our climate goals.

Want Big Tech to stop treating our backyards like their personal power outlet? Tell your state reps to support the POWER Act: https://act.ilenviro.org/a/poweractveto

09/29/2026

We are honored to welcome Lt. Governor candidate Christian Mitchell to the stage at our upcoming Environmental Leadership Dinner! A true champion of our state's clean energy policy, his voice is one you won't want to miss. Join us for an incredible night celebrating environmental change agents. 🌅

🎟️ It’s not too late to grab your seats—secure your dinner tickets today: https://ilenviro.org/2026-environmental-leadership-dinner/

09/25/2026

The NITA era has pulled into the station. The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act is reshaping how transit works in Northern Illinois to ensure public transit connects Illinoisans to job opportunities, schools, and healthcare while also strengthening our region's economy. We fixed it AND funded it so that Illinois can make strides toward building the world class transit system we deserve!

09/25/2026

The countdown to IEC’s 2026 Environmental Leadership Dinner is officially on! 🎉 ⏰

As we prepare to celebrate Illinois’ vibrant environmental community on October 2, our silent auction is open to everyone—whether you’ll be in the room or bidding from home!
In our latest blog post, we’re sharing some of our favorite items this year. We have a luxury Starved Rock treehouse getaway, custom art inspired by Illinois wetlands, a group upcycling workshop at Remade Chicago, a puppy-approved basket from Ruff Haus Pets, and an exclusive river tour with Urban Rivers!
No matter if you’re treating yourself or shopping for a good cause, every bid directly supports our work to protect Illinois’ environment and communities. 🌎

⭐️ Get the inside scoop on our top picks: https://ilenviro.org/five-silent-auction-items-im-especially-excited-about-this-year/
⭐️ Bid today: https://airauctioneer.com/2026iecauction