City of Kankakee wins Governor’s Sustainability Award
November 8, 2010Twenty seven Illinois companies and organizations have been honored for their significant achievements in protecting the environment, helping sustain the future, and improving the economy. The Governor’s Sustainability Awards were presented by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center during a luncheon in Champaign. ISTC is a unit of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois.
Since 1987, ISTC has presented Governors awards to organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices. Any Illinois public or private organization is eligible to apply for an award. Organizations who are winning for the first time received the Sustainability Award. Those organizations that have won in past years and are continuing their environmental efforts are awarded a Continuous Improvement Award.
“These businesses and organizations have shown that it is possible to create and maintain conditions under which people and the environment can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social and economic requirements of present and future generations,” said Manohar Kulkarni, ISTC Director.
Posted in Economic Alliance Blog | Leave a commentAmbassador Steel closing in Rochelle, investing in Bourbonnais
November 5, 2010ROCHELLE — Just when the city seemed on a roll for attracting new businesses, one company has decided to close its doors.
Ambassador Steel, located at 1020 S. Main St., recently announced to its employees that it will close its Rochelle facility. According to a written statement, the decision is based upon a “strategic realignment based upon moving production capacity to best meet future goals and market needs.”
The company, which is based out of Auburn, Ind., and owned by Harris Steel, Inc., declined to comment on the closing, a timeline for when the doors will finally close and what will happen to the employees of the Rochelle factory. Harris Steel, in turn, is owned by Nucor Corp.
According to the release to employees, the company will be investing additional equipment at its Bourbonnais facility and a company official will be meeting with each Rochelle employee individually over the next two weeks to “present and discuss options available.” They reassured workers that the closing was not a reflection on the performance of Rochelle employees
Posted in Economic Alliance Blog | Leave a commentExelon and ETA Agree to Develop Reliability Interregional Transmission Extension (RITE) Line
November 3, 2010
Chicago — Exelon, Electric Transmission America (ETA) and American Electric Power (AEP) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an extra high-voltage transmission project that will become a significant backbone of the next generation transmission system in the Midwest. ETA is a joint venture between AEP and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.
The 420-mile line will strengthen the high-voltage transmission system connecting Illinois to Indiana and through to the border with Ohio, improving overall system reliability while also establishing the infrastructure needed to provide Midwest states access to more sources of renewable energy and meet their state-mandated renewable portfolio standards.
“Not only will this project strengthen the overall transmission system, it also will support the integration of new renewable energy sources and provide a roadmap to help reliably manage the expected retirements of some fossil fuel units, while enhancing broad regional cooperation and planning. This is another way Exelon is helping to drive the nation’s transition to a clean energy future,” said Chris Crane, president and COO of Exelon. “Furthermore, if the RITE Line(SM) project is approved, it will result in positive economic impacts to Illinois, including job creation and increased economic activity.”
The project will consist of a 765-kilovolt line from the Ohio border through Indiana to the northern portion of Illinois. ComEd, the delivery company in northern Illinois and a subsidiary of Exelon, is expected to lead the building of the Illinois portion of the project. ETA and AEP will lead the project in Indiana. The project will be built in stages over three to four years, likely between 2015 and 2018, depending on the timing of approvals from federal, regional and state regulators.
The project is the first commercial effort resulting from the recently completed SMARTransmission Study, which was part of an effort to design a conceptual 20-year transmission plan that ensures reliable movement of electricity and provides an efficient transmission system for the Midwest. The study was led by ETA and co-sponsored by a group of several Midwest utilities, including Exelon.
The RITE Line project is expected to cost $1.6 billion and is subject to FERC, PJM (the regional transmission organization) and state approvals. The ultimate cost of the line will be dependent on RTO and state siting requirements, routing of the line, and equipment and commodity costs. Of that amount, $1.2 billion is related to the Illinois portion of the line, and the rest is related to the Indiana portion.
These investments will be made by Exelon, ETA and AEP. Cost allocation to utility customers will be determined later, based on a proposal by PJM and approval by FERC.
Posted in Economic Alliance Blog | Leave a commentLong-awaited I-57 upgrade moves forward
November 2, 2010Article source: The Daily Journal
By Lee Provost
lprovost@daily-journal.com
815-937-3364
For years, Kankakee city officials have pushed for an upgrade of the Interstate 57 interchange at East Court Street. The Illinois Department of Transportation has finally responded. The interchange constructed during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower will soon move toward a total reconstruction.
In a letter to Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein, IDOT said it has committed $1.5 million to fund a Phase 1 preliminary engineering study of the exit 312 interchange. IDOT expects to select an engineering consultant in April to begin the study. The studies typically take between 24-30 months, said Dan Mestelle, IDOT program development engineer.
This interchange provides some unique obstacles, Mestelle noted. The River Valley Supportive Living complex at 1975 E. Court St. is located immediately east of it. Mount Calvary Cemetery at 2000 E. Court St. is to the immediate west. Regardless of the challenges, Epstein couldn’t be more pleased that this major project is finally on the state’s priority list.
“We’ve long felt this interchange had been neglected,” Epstein said. “They (IDOT) finally got our message.” Mestelle said it was premature to speculate what the price tag would be on this reconstruction, but he believed it would be less than the $49 million targeted for the redesign and reconstruction of the exit 315 interchange in Bradley. That project is set to begin next summer.
Posted in Economic Alliance Blog | Leave a commentKankakee County’s unemployment falls Nearly a Full Percent
October 29, 2010
Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) released its county wide unemployment figures for September. For additional information please read the IDES press release below.
September 2010 (151.0 KiB)
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