A look at the most pressing environmental issues facing Chicago this Earth Day

Ahead of Earth Day, the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) released a report outlining the four most pressing environmental and energy issues for Chicago by 2026: air quality, beach closures, data centers, and protecting wetlands. Howard Learner, CEO of ELPC, discussed these findings during an online briefing, emphasizing the significant pressure data centers exert on the energy system. Learner urged residents residing near proposed data center locations to actively engage in meetings and inquire about the facilities' clean energy provisions, self-sufficiency in meeting power demands, water sourcing and consumption methods, and precise geographical placement. The report also touched upon ongoing legal defenses of clean air standards against past federal rollbacks and the critical upcoming decision by the Illinois legislature on the Illinois Wetlands Protection Act.