Illinois Among Least Green States in Nation

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 25, 2011 9:11PM

The Fisk power plant in Pilsen. (Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist)

24/7 Wall St. conducted an analysis of the environmental issues affecting the states in the Union. Let's just say Illinois doesn't fare so well.

Using data compiled in 2009 and 2010, they analyzed energy consumption, pollution problems and state energy policies to rank the states. What they found was that no two states faced the same issues, because pollution is as much a state issue as it is federal. they also balanced the metrics in the study so that a couple of disproportional numbers would not adversely affect where a state scores well.

What the survey found was that Illinois consumes the third-greatest amount of energy out of all 50 states. Unfortunately, only 1.6 percent of that comes from renewable sources, most of that coming from a burgeoning solar energy policy. The Land of Lincoln also has the fourth worst toxic exposure score from the EPA. the state's manufacturing industry produces 1.04 million tons of toxic waste and has a carbon footprint of 242 million metric tons.