Skip to main content

Quigley’s “Chicago Climate Change Tour” Assesses Local Mitigation & Sustainability Efforts

June 18, 2016

CHICAGO – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley(IL-05), a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition(SEEC), visited sites throughout Chicago to explore the local, ground level efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including efforts in green infrastructure, urban agriculture, water quality and research, and sustainable transportation.

“The correlation between protecting our local environment and protecting our communities is undeniable, and the locations I visited as part of my climate change tour today are indicative of that,” said Rep. Quigley. “With the reality of climate change upon us, it is more important than ever that we take action now to mitigate its negative effects. I am proud to see that Chicago is on the forefront of this issue by establishing innovative and sustainable measures in transportation, infrastructure, and agriculture that will make Chicago a healthy city for future generations.”

Rep. Quigley’s “Chicago Climate Change Tour” started at Pilsen Sustainable Streetscape along Cermak Road and Blue Island Avenue, where he met with Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) officials to discuss green infrastructure efforts and how to make our public spaces more eco-friendly. Pilsen’s two-mile streetscape includes features from reflective surfaces on sidewalks to energy saving light poles, turning this Chicago roadway into the “greenest street in America.” Rep. Quigley was joined by Alderman Daniel Solis of the 25th Ward, Luann Hamilton, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Project Development at CDOT, and Hannah Higgins, Project Manager in CDOT’s Streetscape and Sustainable Design Program.

“From sustainable streets to low-emitting vehicles to new practices in agriculture and water, Chicago is and will continue to be a global leader in sustainability," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Congressman Quigley’s leadership in Washington is helping to reduce the impacts of climate change on our communities while also helping our City grow a 21st century economy.”

Image
Climate Tour 2016

Rep Quigley (left) views Pilsen’s Sustainable Streetscape with CDOT officials.

Rep. Quigley continued his tour learning about Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest program, and their 20,000 square foot rooftop garden at Chicago’s McCormick Place. This experimental and commercial production location is testing the feasibility of growing herbs and greens in beds with a lightweight soil mix. They also discussed the impact of climate change on native plant species. Rep. Quigley was joined by Angie Mason, Associate VP of Windy City Harvest at Chicago Botanic Garden, Greg Mueller, Chief Scientist and VP of Science at Chicago Botanic Garden, and Ginny Hotaling, VP of Government Affairs at Chicago Botanic Garden.

"Urban farming gives us an opportunity to localize food systems as long distance transportation adversely affects climate. A local growing space lets farmers prepare for adverse weather systems; they can protect their crops, which will yield a more successful harvest,” said Angie Mason, Associate VP of Windy City Harvest at Chicago Botanic Garden. “The Windy City Harvest program of the Chicago Botanic Garden is an urban agriculture-focused jobs training program that provides classroom and hands-on experience for the future stewards of the local farming movement. We are grateful for Congressman Quigley's leadership in Congress, pushing for policies to help curb climate change, and enjoyed his visit."

Image
Climate Tour 2016

Rep. Quigley (second from right) views Chicago Botanic Garden’s rooftop garden at McCormick Place.

Afterwards, Rep. Quigley visited Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, where he met with leaders from Shedd Aquarium, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Metropolitan Planning Council, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to discuss the impact of climate change on areas as varied as water quality, to the rise in invasive species, and the health of the Great Lakes’ aquatic ecosystems. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District spoke about their work to improve Chicago’s sustainability through better water management, while Shedd Aquarium highlighted their innovative water and energy conservation efforts that are reducing their carbon footprint.

“Shedd Aquarium is committed to protecting and preserving wild animals and wild places for future generations, and we believe a critical component of this mission lies in reducing our environmental footprint,” said Aislinn Gauchay, Assistant Director of Great Lakes and Sustainability at Shedd Aquarium. “We would like to extend our gratitude to Rep. Quigley for being a champion of our local environment and fostering bipartisan solutions, as exemplified through his leadership of the Chicago Climate Change Tour.”

Image
Climate Tour 2016

Rep. Quigley (left) views solar panels on the rooftop of Shedd Aquarium with Robert P. Wengel, VP of Facilities at Shedd.

On the final stop of the tour, Rep. Quigley visited the Department of Fleet and Facility Management with the City of Chicago to talk to CDOT and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) officials about Chicago’s progress in implementing sustainable transportation. In recent years, both transportation agencies have been working together to introduce environmentally-friendly vehicles, electric vehicles and charging stations around the city. Rep. Quigley viewed a CTA 700-series, the first set of all-electric buses to be added to CTA’s bus fleet, making CTA the first major U.S. transit agency to use all-electric buses as part of daily service.

Image
Climate Tour 2016

Rep. Quigley in the driver’s seat of an electric CTA bus with Marc Manning, Project Manager for All-Electric Bus Acquisition at CTA.

As a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, Rep. Quigley has been a stalwart protector of the environment since he arrived in Washington in 2009. Most recently, he spoke to colleagues addressing climate change as a national security issue. After the crisis in Flint, Michigan, he partnered with Illinois officials to push for better EPA lead and copper standards. He also visited Chicago’s Loyola University to discuss how to implement more bird-safe measures for campus buildings, toured urban flooding prevention project sites, and urged the importance of clean drinking water in an editorial in the Chicago Daily Herald. Last year, he went on a tour through the Pullman and Calumet region to highlight the positive impact environmental restoration can have on community development. He has urged his colleagues in the House to put partisanship aside and craft America’s first national energy plan to address climate change. During his Chicago Climate Tour of 2013, he visited regional environmental sites to hear from experts on the local impact of climate change and efforts to address the issue.