AGP Executive Report

Clean Water: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 17 other attorneys general in opposing a federal proposal to narrow Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands. Extreme Heat: Chicago and Rockford hit 88 degrees, breaking daily records set in 2008 — an unusually hot spell for mid-October. Grid Pressure: A federal emergency order allowed backup generators as a last resort across PJM’s 13-state grid, which includes Illinois, amid tight electricity supplies and rising data-center demand. Road Construction: Northern Illinois University and IDOT launched a $40 million research effort to reduce road projects’ effects on natural resources. Farms and Solar: Illinois renewed its cover-crop incentive program for an eighth year, while a Chicago-area training program is preparing more workers for solar jobs.

Sustainable Agriculture: SIU Carbondale graduate students won nearly $40,000 in USDA grants to study winter barley in soybean rotations and more efficient fertilizer use. Illinois also launched its eighth year of cover-crop incentives for farmers. Data Center Oversight: Champaign County is considering banning nondisclosure agreements and opposing property-tax incentives for data centers, while South Elgin approved a temporary construction moratorium. Extreme Weather: Chicago-area temperatures climbed above 80 degrees in mid-October, with Rockford reaching 88 and breaking a daily record. Wildlife and Roads: NIU and IDOT announced a $40 million research project to reduce road construction’s effects on natural resources. Clean Water: Skokie broke ground on a $400 million upgrade to its O’Brien water treatment plant.

Roadside Ecology: Northern Illinois University and IDOT have signed a $40 million, decade-long agreement to assess how road projects affect wetlands, wildlife, plants and communities. Extreme Weather: Rockford hit 88 degrees on Oct. 12, breaking a daily record, before forecasts called for storms and a sharp cooldown. Clean Water: Skokie has broken ground on a $400 million upgrade to its O’Brien water treatment plant. Climate Policy: A new report says Illinois is on track to miss its climate goals under current policies. Wildlife: A mountain lion was confirmed in Southern Illinois, where the species disappeared more than 150 years ago. Farm Innovation: In rural Illinois, a solar-powered ultrasound system is being used to kill toxic algal blooms.

Extreme Heat: Chicago and Rockford reached 87°F, breaking daily records as the region logged unusually warm October weather. Wildlife and Warming: Yellow-jacket calls are up 30% in parts of the Midwest; pest experts link the surge to an unusually warm spring, with activity also reported near Chicago. Cleaner Water: A nearly $400 million upgrade at Skokie’s O’Brien treatment plant will reduce phosphorus in wastewater before it enters the Chicago River system. Safe Disposal: Illinois’ battery recycling program offers free drop-off sites as the state’s stewardship law aims to curb unsafe disposal and fire risks. Storm Recovery: Illinois plans to appeal FEMA’s denial of disaster aid for counties hit by August storms, which damaged farms and communities. Litter Cleanup: Chicago is competing with Los Angeles and Philadelphia to collect the most trash this month; Chicago volunteers gathered seven tons last year. Climate Accountability: A new report says Illinois is not on track to meet its climate goals under current policies.

Urban Wildlife: Chicago-area birds of prey are making use of streetlights, utility poles and cell towers as perches and hunting spots, adapting to life in a busy region. Habitat Restoration: Illinois Extension volunteers and the Illinois Audubon Society are restoring Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary, where volunteers have planted more than 1,100 trees to reduce erosion and support future eagle nesting and roosting. Water Quality: Illinois is advancing state oversight of PFAS drinking-water rules, while a rural Illinois project uses solar-powered ultrasound to fight toxic algal blooms. Energy & Land Use: Bloomington has proposed data-center rules intended to protect neighborhoods; Chicago residents are also questioning whether the grid can support new data centers and what that could mean for electric bills. Air Quality: Pilsen residents are calling for more testing near a scrap-metal facility. Climate: A University of Chicago Climate Impact Lab report warns that a powerful El Niño, intensified by human-caused warming, could contribute to as many as 451,000 excess heat-related deaths worldwide through February.

Habitat Restoration: U of I Extension Master Naturalists joined the Illinois Audubon Society at Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary to remove invasive plants, survey habitat and plant trees. Volunteers have planted more than 1,100 trees to limit shoreline erosion and support future eagle nesting and roosting. Extreme Weather: NOAA puts the odds of a very strong El Niño at 83%; scientists warn it could intensify weather impacts in an already warming world. Clean Energy: Google and Constellation’s 20-year deal will fund upgrades at 11 reactors across Illinois and other states, adding 890 megawatts as data-center power demand grows. Water Quality: Illinois is advancing authority to oversee PFAS drinking-water rules amid federal changes, while solar-powered ultrasound is being used to fight toxic algal blooms in rural Illinois. Local Planning: Bloomington has proposed data-center rules aimed at protecting neighborhoods, and environmental groups are suing over the cutoff of federal funding for rural solar projects.

Recycling: McLean County’s 2025 recycling rate was 41%, above the national average, but waste generation rose and battery and leaf recycling fell. Data Center Rules: Bloomington has proposed rules to protect neighborhoods as Illinois faces mounting pressure to set guardrails for data center growth. Climate Goals: A new report says Illinois is on track to miss its climate targets under current policies. Clean Energy: A Peoria County wind project is under scrutiny over noise, setbacks and risks to birds and bats; the review includes proposed measures to protect wildlife. Local Conservation: A 160-acre Will County farm is being preserved, with 40 acres donated to the forest preserve district and the rest under a conservation easement. Water Innovation: In rural Illinois, solar-powered ultrasound is being used to fight toxic algal blooms. Youth Action: Chicago has launched a climate action fund for young people.

Clean Energy: Environmental groups are suing over the federal cutoff of rural solar funding, a fight with implications for Illinois communities pursuing renewable power. Climate Goals: A new report says Illinois is on track to miss its climate targets under current policies. Local Conservation: A 160-acre Will County farm is being protected as a nature preserve; 40 acres have been donated, with the rest under a conservation easement. Water Quality: A rural Illinois project is using solar-powered ultrasound to combat toxic algal blooms. Community Health: Pilsen residents are calling for more air-quality testing near a scrap-metal facility. Nature & Gardening: A tagged monarch’s southbound journey brought it through Illinois, while Illinois Extension’s upcoming virtual classes will cover native plants, trees and sustainable gardening. Research & Education: SIU Carbondale’s Earth Science Week events will explore plastic pollution, soil health, critical minerals and water quality.

Water Safety: Solar-powered ultrasound buoys are helping Mattoon tackle toxic cyanobacteria in Lake Paradise, its main drinking-water source, after a 2025 bloom triggered a do-not-drink order. Data Center Rules: Bloomington has proposed tougher reviews for large data centers, including studies of water and energy use and a 1,000-foot buffer from homes, schools, hospitals and daycares. Climate and Clean Energy: A new report says Illinois is off track to meet its climate goals under current policies; meanwhile, environmental groups are suing over the federal cutoff of rural solar funding. Pollution Cleanup: Union Pacific continues lead cleanup near the Fox River in St. Charles, and Illinois is advancing authority to oversee PFAS drinking-water rules as federal protections shift.

Climate Policy: A new report says Illinois is on track to miss its climate goals under current policies, while Chicago has launched a Youth Climate Action Fund to support young people’s local climate projects. Clean Water: Illinois is moving to take primacy over PFAS drinking-water rules as federal standards shift; separately, the Illinois EPA is making $21.8 million available to address contaminated drinking water. Local Pollution: Pilsen residents are calling for more air-quality testing near a scrap-metal facility. Fox River Cleanup: Union Pacific has collected lead-based paint chips that were washing toward the Fox River in St. Charles and plans more cleanup this fall. Energy and Growth: Illinois faces mounting debate over data centers, with questions about how the facilities could affect power demand, household bills and state regulation.

Clean Drinking Water: Illinois is moving to oversee PFAS drinking-water rules as federal requirements shift, while the state EPA is distributing $21.8 million to address contaminated water supplies. Data Center Pressure: Illinois faces growing calls to regulate data centers as their demand for power and water rises; a Winnebago County Forest Preserve Board race is also unfolding amid concerns about proposed development near sensitive land. Wind and Wildlife: Peoria County zoning officials are weighing the Fort Creek wind project’s effects on bats, birds and nearby protected land. The developer says it will survey turbines for wildlife deaths and curtail some during low-wind conditions to protect bats. Heat and Harvest: Illinois’ September was preliminarily the warmest on record, with dry conditions speeding harvest in the south while heavy rain delayed work farther north. Forecasters expect an unusually strong El Niño to intensify into winter, bringing potential disruption to weather patterns.

Drinking Water: Illinois is advancing its bid to oversee PFAS drinking-water rules as federal requirements shift. The state EPA also has $21.8 million available to address contaminated drinking water. Chicago Climate Policy: Mayor Brandon Johnson launched a youth climate action fund, while the city’s proposed one-year pause on new or expanded data centers highlights concerns over electricity demand, water use and environmental impacts. State lawmakers face pressure to set data-center rules. Clean Energy and Wildlife: Lightstar Renewables advanced a community solar project in Logan County. In Peoria County, a proposed 113-turbine wind project faced zoning-board scrutiny over impacts on bats, birds and endangered species, with plans for wildlife monitoring and turbine curtailments. Regional Water Concerns: Illinois residents raised questions about a proposed Indiana wastewater discharge into the Kankakee River, including whether downstream water-quality standards would be met.

Youth Climate Action: Chicago is offering $1,000–$5,000 grants to residents ages 15–24 for local climate and environmental projects. Applications close Nov. 6. Wind Siting: Peoria County’s zoning board heard competing claims on a proposed wind project, including turbine noise, wildlife risks, setbacks from state forest land and plans to curtail turbines to protect bats. Data Center Debate: Illinois is among seven states where voters will weigh data center-related ballot measures, as concerns grow over the facilities’ environmental and economic costs. Pollution Accountability: Illinois and other states are challenging the federal rollback of power-plant emissions limits; separately, the state attorney general and Chicago are asking a court to halt a Pullman plant’s operations over odors and alleged environmental violations. Cleanup: A 6.7-mile Illinois Superfund site tied to decades of radioactive contamination in a creek has been removed from the cleanup list.

Chicago Rail Yard: City Council’s Transportation Committee opposed Amtrak’s proposed South Loop maintenance yard and pressed the railroad to release its completed environmental study as residents warned of noise and health impacts. Power and Climate: Google and Constellation plan to add 890 megawatts through nuclear plant upgrades, including in Illinois, to serve data-center demand—raising questions about how AI growth will affect regional power supplies. Home Electrification: Eligible DeKalb-area homeowners and building owners can get free assessments and energy upgrades through ComEd, including heat pumps and efficient appliances. Rural Solar: The Environmental Law & Policy Center is suing USDA over new rules it says block farmers and rural businesses from renewable-energy grants, putting projects already underway at risk.

Data Centers & Energy: A new Illinois Economic Policy Institute study projects $57B in data center investment through 2035 could create 121,000 jobs, but critics warn most would be temporary and that water and energy burdens remain a concern. Nuclear Power Deal: Google and Constellation announced a 20-year nuclear power purchase plan that would add 890 MW of capacity to the PJM grid and drive major upgrades at Illinois plants. Air Pollution Limits: Illinois is among states suing the EPA over rollbacks that weaken power-plant emissions rules, as communities worry about health impacts. Local Water Protection: Illinois EPA plans to distribute $21.8M to address contaminated drinking water. School Fuel Costs: Diesel prices are squeezing northern Illinois school transportation budgets, pushing districts to rethink spending and fossil-fuel dependence. Food & Plant-Based Pressure: Mercy For Animals urges McDonald’s to expand plant-based burgers in the U.S., pointing to international menu availability. Community Resilience: Midwest Food Bank broke ground on a $6M Morton expansion to boost disaster-relief logistics and volunteer capacity.

Data Center Jobs vs. Power Costs: A new Illinois Economic Policy Institute projection says a $57B data-center buildout could create about 121,000 jobs through 2035, but only ~2,800 would be permanent—while electricity bills for households could rise by around $150 a year, intensifying debate over tax breaks and grid strain. Local Data-Center Rules: Aurora Mayor John Laesch won an Illinois Environmental Council award for tougher city data-center regulations, including noise, water, energy modeling, and renewable/resilience requirements. Big-Tech Nuclear Push: Google’s PJM deal with Constellation Energy—3,590 MW total, including 890 MW tied to upgraded nuclear—shows how the AI boom is turning into a power-plant race that reaches Illinois. Clean Air Legal Fight: Illinois Attorney General Jeff Raoul moved to challenge EPA rollbacks on power-plant emissions limits, as multiple states and cities sue to keep climate rules alive. Water Affordability Warning: A national analysis finds water rates have surged 62% over a decade, outpacing inflation and squeezing household budgets—an “almost a quiet emergency.” El Niño Escalation: NOAA says a “very strong” super El Niño is strengthening, with flood and drought risks rising for vulnerable communities.