Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Energy and the Environment
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 an… Continue Reading
11.13.09
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. "This … Continue Reading
11.13.09
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 agriculture,"… Continue Reading
11.03.09
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 En… Continue Reading
10.29.09
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
10.27.09
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 strong… Continue Reading
10.21.09
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 Represent… Continue Reading
10.15.09
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 lake… Continue Reading
10.09.09
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 the… Continue Reading
10.01.09
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 Dis… Continue Reading
09.30.09
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 significant… Continue Reading
09.10.09
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 deve… Continue Reading
08.27.09
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 capture … Continue Reading
08.06.09
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 b… Continue Reading
08.04.09
Durbin: Senate Approves Nearly $8.5 Million for Illinois Agriculture Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate has approved $8,478,000 for Illinois projects with the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA includes funding for the following Illinois projects and programs: • Biotechnology Research Development Corporation (BRDC), Peoria. $3,500,000 in funding to facilitate the devel… Continue Reading
07.30.09
Durbin: Senate Committee Approves Over $27 Million in Transportation and Economic Development Funding for Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $27,004,744 in federal funding for Illinois transportation and economic development projects. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 appropriations bill for the Department of Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations includes funding for the following projects: Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration: … Continue Reading
07.29.09
Durbin: Senate Approves More Than $111 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Senate has approved $111,037,000 for energy- and water-related projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects: Army Corps of Engineers: • Carlyle Lake, Carlyle. $5,171,000 in funding for operations and maintenance at Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made lake in Illinois, with over 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of pub… Continue Reading
07.21.09
Durbin Announces Nearly $7 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Environmental Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Region 5 have awarded $6,962,635 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to three environmental programs in Illinois. "Today's funding will improve the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink while creating jobs across Illinois," said Durbin. "It is not only good for our bodily health, but also the health of our sta… Continue Reading
07.15.09
Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers to Discuss Agricultural Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a meeting with representatives from the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to discuss climate change and ethanol issues. "I firmly believe that we need to make significant efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change on our planet," said Durbin. "Bringing groups like the Illinois Corn Growers Association to the table and including their concerns in this debate is an import… Continue Reading
07.14.09
Durbin Statement on Release of FutureGen Record of Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Department of Energy (DOE) issued the Record of Decision - a final public decision that certifies the project meets environmental requirements - for FutureGen. "Issuing the Record of Decision is a clear signal of the Department of Energy's commitment to seeing FutureGen move forward at Mattoon. While it has been over a year and a half since we first asked for this importa… Continue Reading