Earlier this month, the Tribune reported on a Cook County judge’s finding that Trump Tower violated state and federal environmental laws that protect fish in the Chicago River (“Trump Tower faces fines,” Sept. 12). As a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner, I want to commend the Tribune for bringing attention to this important environmental decision that is designed to ensure the health of our city’s waterways.
As Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul stated following the decision, the Chicago River is one of our greatest natural resources, and it’s on all of us as Chicagoans to ensure it’s protected. I’m grateful to him and organizations such as the Friends of the Chicago River and the Illinois Sierra Club for acting swiftly to stop the building’s detrimental practice.
As government officials, we need to defend our natural resources at every level. The MWRD was created with the distinct focus on protecting the lake as our greatest source of drinking water, as well as improving the water quality of the river system and waterways. Since then, we have made significant strides, including engineering our wastewater away from our drinking water by reversing the river’s flow.
This lawsuit, while positive progress, is far from a permanent solution. Environmentalists must be at the table when any new development goes up to ensure that these considerations are top of mind from the start. This is how we can continue the river’s status as a true asset in our city. The Chicago River used to be an eyesore — and now, thanks to the work of the MWRD and countless other organizations, it’s been transformed. We have a chance to make it even better and continue encouraging people to engage with and appreciate it.
We’re lucky that in our city we have an incredible resource such as the Chicago River, and we are starting to see it turn the corner on health, vibrancy and life. The river represents culture and commerce, and it’s a core facet of Chicago. We as lawmakers and regulators need to remember that if we let corporate entities continue to ask for forgiveness instead of permission, we will lose the battle for these resources.
Let’s uplift environmentalists’ voices and make sure that future developments protect and better one of Chicago’s greatest assets for years to come.
— Precious Brady-Davis, commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Illinois’ clean energy needs
As an Illinois solar energy leader, I emphatically agree with the core message of the Tribune’s Sept. 18 editorial on Illinois’ looming energy crisis (“An electricity crisis is looming for Illinois. Is anybody paying attention in Springfield?”). We face immense challenges to keep consumer power costs down, attract future business investments and maintain a reliable energy grid — and we urgently need leaders in Springfield to act.
However, I wholly disagree that the solution to this crisis is extending our reliance on fossil fuels. Illinois has seen significant clean energy investments in recent years, with tens of thousands of solar projects in operation, but additional solutions are needed to accelerate that growth and ensure Illinois is well positioned to meet future energy needs.
Clean energy is the future of our grid and economy — the numbers back it up.
Building at least 8.5 gigawatts of clean energy storage will ensure we fill the gap while staying on the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act’s road map to 100% clean energy, according to a recent study by Mark Pruitt, former director of the Illinois Power Agency and a Northwestern University educator.
The study found energy storage will provide major economic benefits, including saving consumers up to $3 billion on energy bills, creating up to 115,000 jobs and up to $16 billion in economic activity, and preventing up to $7.3 billion in blackout-related expenses.
We can capture these benefits only if lawmakers act now. Small-scale rooftop solar-plus-storage installations can fill some immediate needs, but large energy infrastructure takes years to build, so Illinois must immediately spur more development. Without action, Pruitt projects Illinois will enter a capacity deficit in the early 2030s. If Illinois continues to see increased energy demand via new business investments such as data centers, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, alongside heightened residential usage, up to 15 GW of clean energy storage could be necessary.
The good news is we have bold and innovative leaders in Springfield who recognize and understand the urgency to protect consumers and businesses from rising energy costs. State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, and Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, have introduced SB3959 and HB5856, respectively, which would create an 8.5 GW clean energy storage procurement target for the Illinois Power Agency, among other provisions necessary to meet CEJA’s goals.
I implore all state legislators to consider this legislation during the upcoming veto session to ensure Illinois remains an energy leader that is equipped for the future.
— Lesley McCain, executive director, Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association, Palatine
Responsibility as pedestrians
Regarding Robert McCoppin’s front-page story in the Sept. 25 Tribune “Pedestrian protections at rail crossings lacking”: No pedestrian needs to die crossing a street or a railroad track. Pedestrians should take the time to “stop, look and listen,” as we are taught in grade school.
One need only walk and observe pedestrians on today’s streets to wonder how anyone survives. It amazes me to see people crossing streets while staring down at their phones the entire time.
While it saddens me that no one seems able to walk outside and simply enjoy connecting with the sights, sounds and people around them, it annoys me that they can’t pay attention when crossing paths where they might get injured. At some point, it becomes as much our responsibility as anyone’s to take care of our own safety.
How ironic that one of the photos accompanying McCoppin’s article shows a young woman crossing a train track. Is she looking up and around, even at the car near her? She’s staring down at her phone as she crosses the tracks with so much unqualified confidence.
— Linda Finley Belan, Chicago
Danger at railroad crossing
The photo of Jules Clark crossing the tracks in Barrington illustrates the real problem endangering pedestrians crossing railroad tracks. She is looking at her phone and not paying attention to either the railway or the vehicle passing her.
The two fatalities mentioned in the article were teens. Were they distracted by phones or music on headphones? No crossing barrier will cure that problem.
— Mary Podeszwa, Chicago
Teaching civics to the young
There is disagreement on what to teach when it comes to civics and when to teach it, either in secondary public education and at the university/community college level, because of the differing interpretations of the Constitution.
Immediately, there need to be developed K-12 political literacy programs that are age-appropriate.
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, the writing of the Constitution and the stories of the Founders are all historical facts.
Children need to understand the responsibilities of being a citizen of the United States. They need to know the levels and structure of city, township, county, state and national government.
It is a good idea to register high school seniors to vote if they will be age 18 by Nov. 5. But it is not a good idea to give them the vote if they don’t have an understanding of the electoral system.
We do not give driver’s licenses to 16-year-olds who don’t have training and practice behind the wheel. As responsible educators and citizens, we must do no less for our children!
— Donna Davis, Woodstock
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