A POLICY Dialogue | S03E01

A POLICY Dialogue The Chicago Sustainability Series returns for Season Three with A POLICY Dialogue held on June 9, 2026 with Jen Walling. Jen is the Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Environmental Council. The Chicago Sustainability Series is sponsored by Ion Stewards Energy, learn more at ionstewardsenergy.com. We covered Illinois Senate Bill 3772, the state’s Environmental Justice Air Permitting Bill. Once in effect, the new Illinois law will require a cumulative impact analysis assessing all existing air pollution sources, sensitive populations, and other factors that increase community vulnerability to the overall effect of newly proposed polluting projects seeking permits. We covered recent related wins around transit, battery storage and clean energy, and what still needs to be advanced in Illinois to protect our bills and natural resources from data centers, protect our wetlands, and phase out polystyrene foam from our foodware by 2030. Our discussion was centered in a full table approach for how important and difficult things get done together with space for technical and community skills, grassroots first mover expertise, practical optimism, good faith development, and how these actions advance every Illinoisian’s state constitutionally protected right to a healthful environment. Learn more about Jen Walling and her team as anything good happens because of lots of committed and capable hands, where you can get involved, and the goals and progress of the Illinois Environmental Council at ilenviro.org. Thank you to Dynasty Podcasts and Drew Fredrickson for production and editing services in support of this episode. Learn more about The Chicago Sustainability Series at sustainthechi.com and stream previous and upcoming episodes at sustainthechi.substack.com. Now, onto A Chicago Sustainability Series Season Three POLICY Dialogue. The Chicago Sustainability Series was founded in 2015 to explore the intersections of sustainability, inclusion, representation, and equity. Listen to our full catalogue at sustainthechi.substack.com, and learn how you can get involved in future dialogues, recommend a speaker, partner for impact and activations, become a sponsor, and more at sustainthechi.com.