Chicago conference looking into ways to make transportation more sustainable
A major conference in Chicago this week was focused on finding sustainable solutions to some of the nation's biggest environmental problems, and one major concern was transportation.
Emissions from cars and trucks are among the greatest sources of air pollution in the Chicago area. With Illinois' air pollution worse than the national average, experts are talking about ways to change that.
At the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress in downtown Chicago this week, global leaders gathered to focus on solutions for making transportation more sustainable and better for the environment; whether it be planes, trains, buses, or cars.
"Chicago really has the ability to be sort of an epicenter for climate leadership," said Erik G. Birkerts, Chief Growth Officer at LanzaJet, a sustainable fuel technology company.
Imad Al-Qadi, the Director of the Illinois Center for Transportation, said transportation is responsible for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States – known to have an impact on health and the environment. In Chicago, transportation accounts for 32% of greenhouse gas emissions.
"We are at a point where we can make a big change," Al-Qadi said. "We have a very aggressive program to reduce the energy that is generated from the coal."
As part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act passed in 2021, Illinois has a goal to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050.
"Transportation is one of these sectors that is known to be as hard to decarbonize," Birkerts said.
So what's happening in Chicago, and what more can be done to reach the state's clean energy goal?
Spokespeople for the CTA said the agency is environmentally conscious, and after successfully deploying two electric buses in 2014, they have plans to add 20 to 30 more in the next few years.
A spokesperson for Metra said the rail agency this week won a more than $23 million award to buy three battery-electric switch locomotives, replacing some of Metra's oldest, most-polluting diesel locomotives.
"The purchase, which will comply with the federal Build America Buy America Act, will serve as a pilot project to test battery-electric technology for railroad locomotives. Metra will also provide $5.8 million as the local match for the project. The project is expected to go out to bid later this year," the agency said.
Pace representatives said they are also focused on sustainability, noting the agency recently broke ground on its first all-electric bus facility in Waukegan.
"Our Project Zero initiative is focused on sustainability. All of the program goals and milestones are on the project webpage," a spokesperson said in an email.
"The public transportation is always saving in the emission anyway," Al-Qadi said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
27 minutes ago
- Washington Post
GOP tax bill would ease regulations on gun silencers and some rifles and shotguns
WASHINGTON — The massive tax and spending cuts package that President Donald Trump wants on his desk by July 4 would loosen regulations on gun silencers and certain types of rifles and shotguns, advancing a longtime priority of the gun industry as Republican leaders in the House and Senate try to win enough votes to pass the bill.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lake Street: AMT-130 Could Be Game-Changer For ClearPoint
uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ:QURE) is among the 11 Best Genomics Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Lake Street Capital reiterated its Buy rating and $30 price target for ClearPoint following uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ:QURE) regulatory update on AMT-130, an experimental gene therapy for Huntington's disease. A team of scientists in lab coats studying a microscope, working on developing gene therapy solutions. uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ:QURE) declared that it has partnered with the FDA to seek an expedited approval process for AMT-130. If the trials go well and the FDA approves it, Lake Street sees AMT-130 as maybe ClearPoint's first 'meaningful partner asset.' ClearPoint provides disposables valued at almost $20,000 for each AMT-130 infusion, suggesting a significant financial benefit associated with the therapy's effectiveness. The FDA's support might result in the approval by the end of 2026, which would have a big effect on ClearPoint's financial standing and confirm its strategic focus on image-guided neurosurgery and gene therapy delivery. According to Lake Street, this regulatory milestone increases clarity on ClearPoint's contribution to the advancement of clinical-stage gene treatments and provides further assurance regarding the clearance timeline for AMT-130. While we acknowledge the potential of QURE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 High-Growth EV Stocks to Invest In and 13 Best Car Stocks to Buy in 2025. Disclosure. None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Intellia Reports Positive 3-Year Lonvo-z Data in HAE Trial at EAACI Congress
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) is among the 11 Best Genomics Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. It presented encouraging three-year follow-up data from their Phase 1 trial of lonvoguran ziclumeran (lonvo-z) in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) at the EAACI Congress 2025. A lab scientist peering into a microscope focused on gene editing technology. All 10 patients were free of attacks and treatment for a median of 23 months after receiving a single dose of lonvo-z, which led to a 98% mean reduction in monthly HAE attacks. Positive safety results were maintained across all treatment dosages. The current Phase 3 HAELO trial has a majority of U.S. enrollment and has completed screening ahead of schedule. Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA) plans to launch in 2027 after submitting a BLA in 2026. Lonvo-z (NTLA-2002) is an experimental in vivo CRISPR-based gene editing therapy that targets the KLKB1 gene to prevent HAE attacks. The FDA has designated it as an Orphan Drug and RMAT, while the EMA has designated it as PRIME, among other regulatory classifications. Administered intravenously at doses ranging from 25 to 75 mg, the therapy demonstrated dose-dependent kallikrein protein decrease and long-term efficacy, with no major treatment-related side effects recorded. While we acknowledge the potential of NTLA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 High-Growth EV Stocks to Invest In and 13 Best Car Stocks to Buy in 2025. Disclosure. None. Erreur lors de la récupération des données Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données
