Environmental
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Wauconda starts annexation process to block solar energy facility in residential areaApr 08, 2026 6:03 pm - Wauconda has begun the process to annex 62 acres on the north side of town to block a solar energy system to be built near a residential area.
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Power, water and worry: How growing data center concerns are being addressed locally and statewideApr 07, 2026 2:24 pm - Data center development in Illinois is facing the prospect of greater regulation at both the local and statewide levels after initially being embraced in many suburbs.
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CEJA workforce hubs deliver hope, but will they deliver jobs?
Apr 06, 2026 1:36 pm - Of the 805 students who have graduated from CEJA workforce hubs, only 124 had found employment in the renewable energy sector or adjacent industry as of March 2026, according to figures supplied to Capitol News Illinois by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, a rate of roughly 15%.
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Statewide warehouse pollution reduction bill fails to meet committee deadline
Apr 01, 2026 10:01 am - A House deadline passed last week with lawmakers declining to advance a measure to establish annual emissions-reduction targets and a system of points for air pollution mitigation measures for warehouses and the trucks traveling to and from them. It would have been the first statewide warehouse pollution reduction measure but didn’t gain enough support to even receive a committee hearing.
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Lawmakers seek measure to make small-scale, plug-in solar panels available to renters
Mar 28, 2026 3:57 pm - A bill to allow for small, plug-in solar panel systems is moving through the Senate, which would open access to solar power for renters and others who can’t install rooftop solar panels. The plug-in solar legislation applies primarily to low-wattage systems that could be set up on a balcony, porch or backyard. It prohibits landlords and homeowners’ associations from banning or regulating systems that output less than 392 watts.
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Energy fallout from Iran war signals a global wake-up call for renewable energy
Mar 28, 2026 1:57 pm - The Iran war is exposing how much the global economy still depends on fragile fossil fuel supplies. The conflict has virtually choked off the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Analysts say the crisis is a stark reminder that energy security is not just about stockpiles and shipping, but also about the lagging transition to renewable energy.
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Lake County launches Green Business programMar 27, 2026 11:06 am - Lake County’s recently approved Green Business Program highlights businesses that adopt environmentally sustainable practices related to energy, pollution prevention, solid waste, transportation/air quality and/or water.
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Waste transfer station proposed to replace Countryside landfill operationsMar 24, 2026 7:08 pm - The process to replace the Countryside landfill in Grayslake with a waste transfer station is set to begin.
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McHenry County denies solar farms — then gets sued for turning them down
Mar 20, 2026 10:59 am - McHenry County is facing a lawsuit over the County Board’s denial of a pair of solar farms, according to court records. The board turned down four solar farms in ...
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Public hearing on lead service line replacement plan rescheduled in WaucondaMar 13, 2026 9:17 am - The village of Wauconda is holding a rescheduled public hearing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 18 to discuss intentions to replace existing lead water service lines within the village to meet Illinois Environmental Protection Agency compliance guidelines.