News for July, 2011
Thursday, July 28th, 2011
CNT recently expanded its operations from its LEED Platinum building on North Avenue and has purchased a new building at 1741 N Western. The new facility includes an adjacent lot which is currently paved with asphalt. CNT, assisted by Alexia Paul, LEED AP and registered landscape architect, has prepared a plan for transitioning the empty lot into a showcase sustainable garden space, event and educational facility. The garden project is the first initiative of this building’s retrofitting. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Natural Resources | 3 Comments »
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Curious about the Energy Savers program? Listen to CNT Energy’s Peter Ludwig explain how it works and what the benefits are on Tuesday, July 26, at 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CDT. Register here for free.
Energy Savers is a one-stop shop for apartment building owners in the Chicago region to obtain technical assistance and financing for energy efficiency retrofits to their buildings. To date, the program helps building owners save an average of 30 percent on their utility bills, equaling roughly $10,000 per year. Energy Savers has completed retrofit work in more than 6,000 units and created 75 jobs. CNT Energy is an affiliate of CNT.
Posted in Energy, Featured Portfolio News, News | No Comments »
Thursday, July 21st, 2011
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced the awardees for the state Green Infrastructure Grant program. Fourteen applicants will receive a portion of the nearly $5 million made available for the inaugural year of the program. Recipients include the City of Joliet ($820,000), the City of Danville ($750,000) and the Safer Pest Control Project ($73,280). Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Natural Resources | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
More than 200 planners, city officials, and other members of the American Planning Association (APA) from around the country joined presenters from CNT recently for a webinar showcasing current applications of the Housing and Transportation (H+T®) Affordability Index in the planning field. The webinar was part of the APA’s monthly webcast series. The presentation, delivered by CNT’s own Maria Choca-Urban, Peter Haas, and Stephanie Morse, detailed why and how the Index was developed, described how different communities are using it, and provided a demonstration of the H+T Index website. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, H+T, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
The goal of a new CNT water project, the Good Neighbor Challenge, is to demonstrate that committed residents can manage stormwater runoff and improve local waterways without huge financial outlays by public agencies. Staff from CNT’s water program are busy identifying 300 residents in three communities (Albany Park, Rogers Park and Wilmette) who are committed to addressing the flooding problem by retrofitting their neighborhoods for wet weather with features like rain gardens and disconnected downspouts. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Natural Resources | 4 Comments »
Saturday, July 9th, 2011
CHICAGO (July 9, 2011)—Gov. Patrick Quinn today signed two bills that will promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs). The bill signing was held at a West Loop Walgreens, whose parking lot currently has an EV charging station.
I-GO Car Sharing has been instrumental in fostering EV deployment in the state and advocating for passage of the two bills. I-GO is a Chicago-based nonprofit car sharing organization formed in 2002. Later this year I-GO will install 18 solar canopy charging stations to power 36 new electric vehicles with emissions-free electricity.
“I-GO is committed to being at the forefront of car sharing technology and sustainability and to providing pollution-free electric vehicles to our members is part of that commitment,” said Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-GO and present at the bill signing. “These two bills will help put Illinois in the lead on EVs, and I-GO is thrilled to be part of this effort.”
House Bill 2902 puts in place a framework for electric vehicle policy development for the state. The bill creates an Electric Vehicle Coordinator position within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. This person will serve as the Quinn Administration’s point person on all things related to EVs. The bill also creates an Electric Vehicle Advisory Committee, comprised of a representative from environmental organizations, industry and government. The committee will develop policy recommendations that will be shared with the governor and the General Assembly for action.
House Bill 2903 amends the Alternate Fuel Vehicle program at Illinois EPA to create a grant opportunity for car sharing organizations to receive funding for the purchase of EVs. The existing program provides rebates to owners of alternate fuel vehicles, using money from a vehicle fleet fee dedicated for this purpose. The program has been underutilized in recent years, and this bill will allow more of the funding to be used to meet the program goals.
HB 2902 was sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams and Sen. Susan Garrett, and HB 2903 was sponsored by Rep. Williams and Sen. Heather Steans.
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Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »
Friday, July 8th, 2011
Governor Quinn signs two electric vehicle bills as I-GO CEO, Sharon Feigon, and EV project manager, Jonathan Goldman, look on.
Gov. Patrick Quinn signed two bills over the weekend that will foster the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in Illinois. CNT’s affiliate, I-GO Car Sharing, has been instrumental in promoting EV deployment and advocating for passage of the two bills. I-GO CEO Sharon Feigon spoke at the bill signing.
Later this year I-GO will install 18 solar canopy charging stations to power its 36 electric vehicles with emissions-free electricity. Sign up for I-GO to be one of the first in the city to drive an EV. Be sure to follow I-GO on Twitter to stay up to date on the exciting EV project developments. Read more »
Posted in I-GO, Transportation and Community Development | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
Could a green infrastrucutre portfolio standard - similiar to this image of renewable energy portfolio standards around the country - work?
If a renewable energy portfolio standard can increase deployment of renewable energy, can a green infrastructure portfolio standard increase deployment of green infrastructure? CNT, American Rivers, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative are working with Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, Michigan, to find out.
More than 30 states have adopted a renewable portfolio standard to increase the long-term production of electricity from renewable sources. The standard requires utilities to gradually increase the amount of renewable energy they produce or purchase over the course of twenty years or longer. More than 20 states have enacted a similar standard for energy efficiency improvements. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Natural Resources | 1 Comment »
