Summer may be over, but water quality challenges across the Great Lakes continue.

ELPC’s new analysis shows that while some states improved in 2025, many beaches still faced frequent closures and advisories — especially in Ohio.

https://act.elpc.org/48nhPTG

Data centers are booming in the Midwest—driving up electricity demand and raising big questions about our clean energy goals.

Join ELPC experts Brad Klein & Saad Siddique for an ELPC Thinks conversation Clean Energy & the Data Center Dilemma.

📅 Oct 9 | 1pm CT / 2pm ET
👉 https://bit.ly/4gTk6Z1

Coal ash is leaking toxic metals into groundwater across the Midwest. EPA must act now. Cleanup cannot wait.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4mz3C9q

EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding was based on sound science and upheld by the courts. Climate evidence has only grown stronger.

EPA now proposes to undo it using a biased report from climate skeptics and a flawed reading of the law.

We filed comments pushing back.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4gGY4bG

For almost a century, the Chicago River was too polluted to swim.

This weekend, hundreds of swimmers dove in for the first public Chicago River Swim in 98 years. ELPC, partners, and the Midwest environmental community made this milestone for clean water possible.

https://bit.ly/3Kg7dMb

From hazardous air to mercury in Lake Michigan, Northwest Indiana communities face major pollution threats. ELPC is fighting back.

https://elpc.org/blog/four-ways-were-fighting-air-and-water-pollution-in-northwest-indiana/

Did you know the House is poised to pass a bill putting our drinking water and wildlife at risk of even more pesticides and toxic discharges?

🚨 Tell your representative to vote NO on the PERMIT Act! 🚨

512,000 acres of Midwest forests are at risk if the Trump Admin repeals the Roadless Rule. Repeal would invite logging, mining, and road-building into some of our last wild places.

📝 Submit your comment by Sept. 19: https://bit.ly/3KnAkx0

The PERMIT Act is the Permission to Pollute Act. It weakens the Clean Water Act, allowing more farm runoff, industrial waste, and toxic chemicals into rivers and lakes.

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/09092025/clean-water-act-amendments-iowa-impact/

Event: Protecting the Midwest's Wild Forests
📅 Sun, Sept 14 | 6 PM CT

Join us and @sierraclub.org for a webinar with former Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck on the Trump Admin’s push to repeal the Roadless Rule and open 45M acres of forest to industry.

RSVP: act.sierraclub.org/events/detai...

DOE issued a second “emergency” order keeping Michigan’s J.H. Campbell coal plant alive—despite no grid shortage. ELPC & allies are challenging this unlawful move to protect climate and ratepayers.

🔗 https://elpc.org/news/challenge-to-the-latest-illegal-extension-of-j-h-campbell-coal-plant/

Nitrates in the Des Moines & Raccoon Rivers already forced a lawn watering ban this summer. As Congress returns to Washington, the #PERMITAct would only make Iowa’s water crisis and flooding risks worse.

https://bit.ly/3HFFu6T

Public meeting tomorrow on U.S. Steel Gary Works’ air permit changes. Share your concerns on particulate pollution impacts.

📅 Wed 9/3, 6pm
📍 21st Cent. Charter School, 556 Washington St, Gary, IN

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ni4xMt

Iowa’s water is already in crisis. Today, ELPC + 13 orgs delivered a letter to all 4 Iowa House Reps opposing the #PERMITAct, which would weaken the Clean Water Act & put safe drinking water at greater risk.

More: https://elpc.org/news/calling-on-iowa-delegation-to-oppose-the-permit-act/

Ohio families and small businesses could see lower energy bills from proposed voluntary demand response programs that reward customers for using less power at peak times.

Read more: https://elpc.org/news/ohio-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-lower-energy-costs-through-voluntary-demand-response-programs/

The Army Corps says it will not extend the toxic landfill on Chicago’s Southeast Side. Now the fight is to make sure the land goes to the Park District for the community park that was promised 25+ years ago.

🔗 https://insideclimatenews.org/news/20082025/chicago-residents-fight-toxic-landfill/

Congress is considering the PERMIT Act (H.R. 3898), a bill that would weaken the Clean Water Act and make it easier for polluters to dump PFAS, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals into our waters.

Tell your Representative to vote NO.

Take action: https://bit.ly/4lMumDs

East St. Louis students are riding into the school year on electric buses that cut air pollution and protect kids’ health. 🚍💨 Clean air and safe rides are a win-win for families and communities.

www.thecooldown.com/green-busine...

#BacktoSchool #ChargingUsForward

Families should be able to swim safely in the Great Lakes. Bacteria contamination at Lake Michigan beaches is preventable pollution, not something we should accept as normal.

More from @c<a href="https://bit.ly/474CU4x" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hicagotribune.com: https://bit.ly/474CU4x

DOE has issued a second “emergency” order to keep Michigan’s J.H. Campbell coal plant running even though it is not needed for reliability. Families should not be forced to pay millions more for an uneconomic coal plant.

Read more: www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-con...

Callie Sharp, attorney at @elpcenter.bsky.social, notes that just recently EPA stated how strong & robust the science describing climate change is.

She notes that that each member of the EPA's "climate work group" [that produced this proposal] are longstanding climate deniers. "This is biased."

Methane pollution is one of the biggest climate threats. The Trump EPA unlawfully delayed safeguards against oil and gas emissions.

We’re in court to get them back in place.

https://elpc.org/news/court-should-throw-out-trump-epa-rule-that-delays-protections-against-oil-and-gas-methane-pollution/

USDA says it will limit funding for solar projects on farmland, stripping farmers of choice and opportunity. That means less energy independence, fewer rural jobs, and fewer options for farmers to manage their land and livelihoods.

https://bit.ly/47B9iMb

Illinois is losing wetlands, our best defense against flooding. After the Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA decision, state action is urgent.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/18/o...

Outdated pollution rules for Michigan’s farms have allowed preventable harm to continue. In two years, 583 more waters have been deemed impaired from E. coli, phosphorus, or other nutrients.

EGLE is considering stronger protections, and MI waters can't wait.

michiganadvance.com/2025/08/11/e...