John Lippert – Page 3

Acres of soybean plants on Joe and Lucy Gleespen's farm on Aug. 20, 2025, in Rosamond, Illinois. Chicago-based Invenergy is planning to build a high-voltage power transmission line from western Kansas to the Illinois-Indiana border, naming the project the Grain Belt Express, and install 140- to 160-foot towers to support the power lines rising above the Gleespens' property. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Grain Belt Express pits Chicago businessman, politicians and farmers in power line battle

August 24, 2025 at 6:19 p.m.

Trump canceled a loan guarantee for the transmission line, but Michael Polsky has Wall Street backers and an advantage in the prospect of soaring electricity prices.

Jacob Henry watches monitors in the control room at the Clinton single-reactor nuclear power station on June 23, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Nuclear plant deal sets stage for AI billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg to reshape Illinois energy policy

July 14, 2025 at 6:59 p.m.

New data centers are launching faster than power plants in a state already facing electricity shortages and higher prices.

An unfinished electric school bus sits in the shuttered Lion Electric school bus factory on May 24, 2025, in Joliet. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Why did Lion Electric fail? Democrats, Canada and Lion itself all played a role.

June 9, 2025 at 11:58 a.m.

Stalled government subsidies and expanding too fast contributed to closure of Joliet plant that made electric school buses.

Se está construyendo un parque solar para abastecer de energía a la planta de Pilkington Glass en Ottawa. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

En Illinois, un límite invisible determina qué tan sucia y costosa es su electricidad

May 27, 2025 at 6:48 p.m.

Como el centro y el sur de Illinois difieren de sus homólogos del norte en la forma de producir y comprar electricidad, se están quedando rezagados en la carrera por...

A solar farm is being built to provide power for the Pilkington Glass facility in Ottawa. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

In Illinois, an invisible boundary determines how dirty and costly your electricity is

May 15, 2025 at 2:35 p.m.

Because central and southern Illinois differ from the north in how they make and buy electricity, they're slipping behind in the race for cheap power, clean air and economic growth.

Brothers Don and Dan Roberts, right, talk alongside their sons Logan, left, and Ryan at their family farm in Minooka on March 19, 2025. A large data center is proposed for the land directly behind their homes and business. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Landing a data center is worth the environmental tradeoffs, Illinois towns say

March 24, 2025 at 6:55 a.m.

Data center projects use massive amounts of water and may jeopardize state's clean energy goals.

Anthony Moser and his daughters, Lucy, 10, foreground, and Sofia, 8, walk past the Corwith Intermodal Facility on their way to school along Pershing Road and St. Louis Avenue on Feb. 14, 2025. Moser is an activist who has been involved with getting air quality information to the public. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Activists anxiously await air monitors, hope Chicago isn’t backsliding on pollution promises

February 16, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

The city expects the network to go online next year but won’t have enough money to keep paying the community to help operate the monitors, publish results.

BP Whiting Refinery in Indiana on Jan. 28, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

O’Hare is Chicago’s biggest CO2 emitter; Indiana factories are region’s top polluters

February 9, 2025 at 6:19 p.m.

New database aims to help cities map out their own CO2 cuts as President Trump looks to eliminate federal programs.

A CTA Blue Line train rolls along the rails as the sun rises over Chicago and the Eisenhower Expressway near Austin Boulevard during early morning rush hour on Oct. 3, 2023. (Antonio Perez/ baiduhai)

Illinois environment and labor officials seek closer ties on climate action

December 10, 2024 at 2:27 p.m.

Trip to Germany is part of effort to find common ground on mass transit, highways, electricity and emissions.

Jeremiah Jamrosz, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 member and third-year student in the Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program, sits in a compactor at the William E. Dugan Training Center in Wilmington on Sept. 20, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)

Local 150 steps into Springfield power vacuum aiming to promote clean energy and protect jobs, efforts often at odds

October 24, 2024 at 4:45 p.m.

Renewable power represents just 10% of Local 150's work. The highway repairs, natural gas pipelines, and vast warehouse and intermodal complexes tell a different story.

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