Conscious Choice: Clean Energy Pioneer

April 2000

Clean Energy Pioneer

by Jeannie Bianchi

Sweeping environmental vision and aggressive campaigning account for Howard Learner’s dizzying progress on the clean energy front over the past decade. Good advocacy work pinpoints the interface between economic, environmental, and consumer fronts and Learner shows a knack for defining this crucial nexus. Keeping his finger on the pulse of legislative, environmental, and business worlds, Learner has led the Environmental Law and Policy Center to push for innovative solutions to our region’s pollution and energy problems. Two ground-breaking projects, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance illustrate these efforts.

Two years in the making, the foundation secured a landmark $225 million for clean energy and environmental advocacy projects in Illinois. The funding comes from electricity giant Com Ed with proceeds from the sale of downstate coal plants. Approved by the general assembly in 1999, the initiative got off the ground thanks to the negotiating wizardry and legislative savvy of Learner and a coalition of environmental groups. Decision-makers include reps from state and local government, environmental groups, and charitable organizations.

"It is a win-win situation for clean energy and the economy," said Learner. "Many municipal buildings are woefully energy inefficient. To the extent that we can improve energy efficiency in city halls, public schools, and park district buildings, we are cutting wasteful energy use and reducing pollution."

Martin Cohen, executive director of the Citizens’ Utility Board, whose group will be a grantee for ICECF funds, praised the vigorous campaign the ELPC waged to secure the funds. "There would never have been a commitment of this magnitude without the ELPC," said Cohen.

The group is still in planning stages, but progress is encouraging. Since the initial go-ahead, head Senate and House legislators, the governor, and Commonwealth Edison have all appointed trustees. Members include: Chair Gayle M. Franzen; Secretary William Frost, attorney; Treasurer Vince Persico, state representative; State Representative Philip Novak; Henry Gianvecchio, Bloomingdale Township assessor. Dennis O’Brien is the only identified nonvoting member, and three appointees remain to be announced.

Franzen has worked in public finance, while Persico and Novak both sit on the House Energy Deregulation and Energy and Environment committees.

In a "wonderful twist of fate" as Deborah Andraca, ELPC director of public affairs put it, Commonwealth Edison handed their appointment to Learner. The irony enters considering Learner’s history with the company. In the early 1990s, he challenged the corporation over proposed rate increases and won more than $1.34 billion in consumer refunds and $339 million dollars in rate reductions. Learner is on board, however, solely to provide strategic direction. To bar conflict-of-interest questions, the ELPC will be exempt from foundation funding, and Learner will forgo the salary awarded other trustee members.

Of the trustee line-up, Learner said, "They bring different skills. This is an interesting opportunity for people who bring diverse backgrounds to work together on important challenges."

Central questions in the next months include establishing criteria for eligible projects, setting a long-term plan for the investment of the funds, and hiring a staff. Also on the table are decisions about how to allocate and reinvest the funds. June is the target date for these policy guidelines.

Craig Sieben, president of Sieben Energy Associates, has kept his eye on development of the foundation over the past months. "I think it’s an excellent initiative with enormous potential," he said. "The real challenge is how to use the money wisely and benefit the citizens of Illinois."

Learner does not doubt, however, that politics will drown purpose. In fact, he has consistently kept his eye on the big picture. In another innovative development, Learner and the ELPC are helping launch the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), the newest effort on the clean energy front. The group will unite utilities, state energy boards, and nonprofit organizations to promote efficient products.

"MEEA’s goal is to skew the market in favor of energy-efficient products," said Deborah Andraca, director of public affairs at ELPC. "We want to sell more products and services to promote energy efficiency."

The ELPC is providing start-up administrative support. Learner pushed the group’s agenda, establishing the articles of incorporation, fundraising, and leading the search for an executive director.

Energy-efficiency programs like Energy Star provide the starting point for MEEA partnerships. The federal government has already developed efficiency standards for hundreds of home and office appliances under the initiative. MEEA’s challenge is to link this technical knowledge to manufacturers and consumers.

The collaboration will save manufacturers money and energy across states. MEEA might coordinate an ad campaign, for example, with input and resources from all manufacturers, saving them from reinventing the wheel.

This example highlights another challenge facing MEEA, not only weaving ties between states, but also between different sectors of the economy. The group is currently recruiting members and founders at the $5,000 and $10,000 income levels. State energy boards and utility interests from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and Missouri have hopped on board. But corporate interests such as manufacturers are lacking for the moment. Andraca is not worried, though.

"Manufacturers will come on board when we run the projects that will help their bottom line," said Andraca.

The Midwest lags behind the Northeast and Northwest, who have had regional energy alliances in place since 1996. "One of the biggest challenges in the Midwest is getting people to work in coalitions," said Andraca. "There is not a history of collaboration. Ohio has never worked with Wisconsin and it’s kind of revolutionary."

The Clean Energy Foundation and Midwest Energy Efficiency face similar challenges. The governing bodies bring together people from diverse groups with different agendas. Keeping focused on the greater environmental good will be a process of negotiation. But Learner and his colleagues at ELPC have consistently demonstrated the broad understanding of the public sector necessary to bring money and power to environmental causes. If the past is any indicator of the future, Learner’s commitment and ability to build strategic alliances will guide the foundation in sustainable use of funds and align MEEA to bring energy saving products to Midwest homes and offices.

For updates on ICECF funding, watch the ELPC’s web site. To follow the development of MEEA, check their web site.

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