Governor Patrick Quinn signed into law today legislation that will help Illinois cities better prepare for the impacts of climate change.  The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) andCenter for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) worked with the legislature and with Governor Quinn’s administration to develop the legislation and worked to support the bill’s passage. The legislation, known as the Clean Water Initiative, provides much needed financial support for... Read the rest of this entry »

The economic and social costs of home flooding can be considerable, for homeowners and their communities. Some municipalities have or are launching flood relief incentive programs to help fund the cost of home flood relief systems, such as the installation of an overhead sewer, a measure taken to readjust a home’s plumbing system to be more resilient to sewer back-ups. CNT researched these programs in Cook County, Illinois, where urban flooding is prevalent and 82% of the... Read the rest of this entry »

Why do our cities and towns flood? Is it too much asphalt, concrete, glass, and steel? Our giant lawns? And what can Illinois communities do to alleviate urban flooding and prevent future losses for their residents? Some answers may be forthcoming, thanks to the Urban Flooding Awareness Act (SB 2966), sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), and passed by the Illinois General Assembly on May 28. The Urban Flooding Awareness Act aligns several... Read the rest of this entry »