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Spotlight brief

Put a Stop to the Sweat Shop

Oct 27, 2014

This summer, Chicago passed a sweat-free ordinance so that tax dollars will not support sweatshops. There is still much work to be done to ensure that this important legislation has an impact on the lives of those that sew our garments.

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Get Your Solar Panels Right Here, Right Now

Aug 25, 2014

The Environmental Law and Policy Center is working with nonprofit Vote Solar, the city of Chicago and the World Wildlife Fund to launch Solar Chicago, a solar panel discount program for Chicago and surrounding communities.

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New Illinois Farmers’ Market and Cottage Food Law

Jul 25, 2014

Public Act 098-0660, a new farmers’ market law passed this spring by the Illinois General Assembly, is a major step forward in creating risk- and scale-appropriate regulations for farmers’ markets that will improve consumer access to locally produced food, support farmers’ markets as a whole and the farmers and entrepreneurs that call them home.

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Illinois Becomes First State to Ban Microbeads

Jun 26, 2014

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation outlawing the manufacture and sale of personal care products containing synthetic plastic microbeads.

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Environmental Scoreboard Making Gains: by Environmental Law and Policy Center

Jun 26, 2014

The Illinois spring legislative session ended on May 30, and environmental advocates worked down to the wire on several important pieces of legislation. Here are some highlights.

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Support the Solar Fix

Feb 26, 2014 ● By Lisa Albrecht

Two pending bills—SB 103 (Sen. Harmon) and HB 2864 (Rep. Mautino)—would fix the renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which 77 percent of Illinois voters support.

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Get Money Back on Landscaping Purchases

Sep 26, 2012

The Chicago Sustainable Backyards Program is offering residents up to 50 percent rebates on local purchases of trees, native plants, compost bins and rain barrels.

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More Protected Bike Lanes Coming By End of Year

Sep 26, 2012

A planned 645-mile Chicago bikeway network has become closer to completion with 34 miles of new protected bike lanes to be finished before the end of the year.

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