Plans this year
- Advocate for clean energy and understand the impacts of climate change
- Support the development of a comprehensive sustainability plan for Wilmette
- Promote cleaner, quieter lawn care practices that support clean air, habitat for wildlife, and a high quality of life for our residents.
- Protect and celebrate our Great Lakes
- Research and work towards the best strategy on reducing plastics
News and Latest Developments
|
Wilmette's Commitment to Sustainability
Following the Wilmette Village Board's endorsement of the Greenest Region Compact (GRC) in 2018, the Environmental and Energy Commission (EEC) was charged with creating a plan to address sustainability issues of global importance at the local level. On September 1st, the Village's Administration committee unanimously aprroved the Village Sustainability Plan as proposed bye the EEC. Next, that plan will be presented to the entire Village Board at its next meeting on September 14th, with a board vote scheduled for September 28th. Thanks to everyone who continues to engage with this process and ensure we have a strong plan backed by an informed community! |
|
Illinois Senate Considering Clean Energy Bill
On 9/9/21, the Illinois House passed SB2408, a comprehensive and ambitious climate, energy, and jobs bill, which is very similar in its scope to the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA). This vote came after tireless work all summer long by advocates with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition -- the negotiators held firm against any attempts to weaken the climate provisions of this bill, and they deserve our gratitude. Now, it's our turn to help get this bill passed in the Senate next week! Please send Senator Laura Fine an email at laura@senatorfine.com, asking her to continue fighting for clean energy legislation and to vote for SB2408. If you have friends or family in other districts, please ask them to urge their senators to vote yes on SB2408 -- you can send them this link to the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) website for an automatic message that will go to the correct person: IEC clean energy link For more details on the bill, click here . |
|
Village Ordinance: No Gas Leaf Blowers!
Did you know that gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited in Wilmette from May 15 through September 30? Here’s why: they create air pollution and stressful oppressive noise levels. They also destroy habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects who rely on the leaves that lie underneath our shrubs and garden flowers. NEW in 2021: The Village is committed to improving compliance with the leaf blower ordinance by hiring a designated code enforcement officer who will issue citations to offenders. When a company is cited, the homeowner will also be notified, to help increase awareness of this ordinance. If you hire a lawn care company, please remind them of the ordinance if they are not following it. If you'd like to get involved with LWV-Wilmette's efforts toward healthier lawn care, please contact us. |
|
Control Mosquitoes Safely & Effectively!
Worried about mosquitoes this summer? Consider the sound advice of Go Green Wilmette to use an Integrated Pest Management method. Before you call a private company, call the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District for FREE assessment and treatment! Their targeted approach is more effective than the "barrier spraying" done by private companies, with much lower collateral damage to the environment. In fact, conservation scientists are so concerned about the collateral damage and pesticide resistance likely to result from commercial barrier spraying, that legislation (HB3118) has been introduced in Springfield to provide oversight of commercial companies and require common-sense measures such as evidence-based spraying and notification of neighbors. Click here to see the text of the bill. |
|
Plan to Improve Walking and Biking in Wilmette
On Tuesday, February 23rd, the Wilmette Village Board approved the Master Bike and Active Transportation Plan. The goal of this plan is to develop recommendations to make the village more walkable and bike-friendly. Shaped by community input, further development and implementation of the plan will be incorporated into the 2022 budgetary progress, beginning in early Fall 2021. Visit the project website to view details, including the most recent version of the plan. |
|
NT Township Supports Carbon Fee & Dividend
In response to the advisory referendum question on the New Trier Township ballot this past spring, more than two-thirds of New Trier Township voted in favor of a carbon fee and dividend policy. Going forward, the LWV-Wilmette and coalition partners, such as the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), will bring this support to the attention of our members of Congress and continue to advocate for climate-friendly policies. For further details on what such a policy means and why it matters, visit the CCL website. |
Past initiatives
Environmentally Focused Inter-League Organizations (ILOs)
The LWV-Wilmette is a member of two different Inter-League Organizations (ILOs) that work on environmental issues in our region. To learn more about them, here are links:
LWVUS POSITION IN BRIEF |
|