Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Energy and the Environment
Following Meeting With Labor Secretary, Durbin Calls on Peabody Energy to Explain Safety Violations at Willow Lake Mine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Chairman and CEO of Peabody Energy to explain what steps the company is taking to improve safety and reduce violations of mine safety standards at Willow Lake mine near Equality, IL. Earlier, Durbin spoke with the Secretary of the Department of Labor, Hilda Solis, about the agency's decision to expedite a hearing to review several "significant and substantial" safety violations that are being contested by the company. … Continue Reading
May 19, 2010
Durbin, Senate Leadership Demand Immediate Inspection of all Offshore Oil Rigs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and other Senate leaders sent a letter to President Obama today, calling for an "immediate and enhanced" inspection of all offshore drilling rigs and production platforms in the United States. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Democratic Conference Vice Chair Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray (D-WA) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert … Continue Reading
April 21, 2010
Durbin Announces $25 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Energy Efficient Buildings in Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) will receive $25 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's funding is part of $452 million announced by the Department of Energy for 25 projects nationwide. CMAP will use the funding to retrofit commercial buildings for increased energy efficiency in downtown Chicago and provide a range of financing … Continue Reading
January 30, 2010
Governor Quinn, Senator Durbin Announce Exelon Corporation Joining FutureGen Alliance
CHICAGO - January 30, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced that the Exelon Corporation will join ranks alongside some of the world's largest energy corporations as a member of the FutureGen Alliance. Exelon's membership signals critical support ahead of the U.S. Department of Energy's (USDOE) pending decision to move ahead on FutureGen construction."As one of the nation's largest electric utilities and energy providers, Exelon's partnership on this project … Continue Reading
December 14, 2009
Durbin Commends Decision to Invent $13 Million in Efforts to Prevent Asian Carp From Entering Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the decision by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson, to allocate $13 million in funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to prevent Asian carp from migrating further toward the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is a new interagency initiative led by the EPA to address the most significant challenges to the Great Lakes including … Continue Reading
December 10, 2009
Durbin Announces More Than $1.3 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Joliet
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated a $1,346,400 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to Joliet, $94,450 of which is already available to the city, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create jobs locally. "Creating jobs and securing the future of our planet are two of the … Continue Reading
December 10, 2009
Durbin Announces Over $3 Million for Flood Protection in Machesney Park
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Village of Machesney Park will receive a $3,008,816 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood protection efforts in Machesney Park. After historic flooding last year, a Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued on June 24, 2008 when many of the structures in the Rock River floodplain were damaged beyond repair. "Today's funding is welcome news for the residents … Continue Reading
November 13, 2009
Durbin Announces Nearly $2.5 Million in Recovery Act Funnding for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in McHenry County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $2,475,900 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to McHenry County through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create jobs locally. "Creating jobs and securing the future of our planet are two of the aims of the Recovery Act," said Durbin. … Continue Reading
November 13, 2009
Durbin Announces Fifth Member of FSA Illinois State Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Obama Administration has chosen Gordon Stine of St. Elmo as the fifth member of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Illinois State Committee. He will join Darell Sarff of Chandlerville; Jill Appell of Altona; Gerardo (Jerry) Jimenez of Cobden; and Joyce Matthews of Nokomis in overseeing the activities of the FSA in Illinois. "Gordon Stine has lifelong experience in Illinois … Continue Reading
November 03, 2009
Durbin Meets with New Board Chairman of the FutureGen Alliance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the new Chairman of the Board of the FutureGen Alliance, Steve Winberg, to discuss their commitment to seeing that Mattoon, Illinois is home to the first emissions-free coal generation plant. "FutureGen is a critical research component of addressing our nation's energy needs in a cleaner, more efficient way," said Durbin. "The Illinois Congressional Delegation, the State of Illinois, the Department of … Continue Reading
October 29, 2009
Durbin: Congress Approves $1.4 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Congress has approved $1.4 million for Illinois projects. The legislation will now be sent to President Obama for his signature. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants … Continue Reading
October 27, 2009
Durbin Announces Nearly $11 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Smart Grid Technology in Naperville
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the City of Naperville will receive $10,994,000 in Recovery Act funding for energy grid modernization technologies that will spur the nation's transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. Earlier today, President Obama and the Department of Energy announced $3.4 million in Smart Grid grants nationwide that are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and a … Continue Reading
October 21, 2009
Durbin Introduces Clean Cruise Ship Act to Protect Oceans, Marine Life and Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to protect the oceans and marine life by extending the Clean Water Act to appropriately regulate the millions of gallons of wastewater discharged in U.S. waters every day by cruise ships. Durbin's bill, known as the Clean Cruise Ship Act would ban the release of raw, untreated sewage in U.S. waters, including the Great Lakes. Nearly identical legislation was introduced in the House of … Continue Reading
October 15, 2009
Durbin: Congress Approves More Than $94 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Congress has approved $94,396,000 for energy- and water-related projects in Illinois. The bill will now go to President Obama for his signature. The Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects: Army Corps of Engineers: • Carlyle Lake, Carlyle. $4,914,000 in funding for operations and maintenance at Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made … Continue Reading
October 09, 2009
Durbin Announces $1.1 Million Grant for Shedd Aquarium
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded a $1,100,000 grant to the Shedd Aquarium Society for a project that will educate visitors about the ocean and encourage better stewardship of the marine environment. Today's funding is part of a national announcement of 11 grants totaling $9,000,000 for the creation of new education projects in aquariums across … Continue Reading
October 01, 2009
Durbin, Halvorson: Ottawa School District Wins FEMA Appeal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D-IL) today announced that Ottawa Elementary School District #141 has won their appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s original repair estimate for Ottawa Central Elementary School. FEMA indicated that federal funds could be used to relocate the school pending the approval of a project request submitted by the school. Durbin and Halvorson support the Ottawa School … Continue Reading
September 30, 2009
Durbin Announces $28 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Energy Efficiency Improvements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $28,740,800 in funding to three Illinois communities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions and create green jobs locally. "Creating jobs and securing our environmental future are at the heart of the Recovery Act," said Durbin. "This funding will make a … Continue Reading
September 10, 2009
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $52 Million in Defense Funding for Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $52,000,000 in federal funding to assist defense related facilities and projects across Illinois. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 defense spending bill includes funding for the following projects: • Columbia College Chicago, Chicago. $2,000,000 in funding for the Construct Program at Columbia College Chicago, which will … Continue Reading
August 27, 2009
Durbin Announces Nearly $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for New Carbon Sequestration Training Center at U of I
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the University of Illinois was the recipient of $994,991 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the development of a carbon sequestration training center in Champaign, Illinois. The center will be run by the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium and will facilitate the understanding of technologies required for site development, operations, and monitoring of commercial carbon … Continue Reading
August 06, 2009
Durbin Announces Senate Approval of Legislation to Extend Hydroelectric Project at Melvin Price Locks and Dam
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate approved legislation to authorize the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) to extend the license for the proposed hydroelectric power project at Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, IL. The legislation, sponsored by Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) and passed in the House of Representatives last month, will now go to President Obama for his signature. "This project … Continue Reading