News Releases - 2002

Citizens Urged To Participate In Chicago Area Clean Air Progress Through New "Green pays On Green Days" Initiative

Chicago, Ill. -- "Green Pays on Green Days"--- Governor Ryan's new initiative to encourage continued "green actions" by Chicago metro area residents that help reduce smog--- was announced today by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Renee Cipriano.

"Air monitoring data shows the Chicago area is the largest metropolitan area in the nation to achieve the federal health standard for ground-level ozone or smog and we did so six years ahead of schedule. This great achievement would not have been possible without the efforts put forth by area industries, not for profit corporations, and citizens to achieve cleaner air," said Governor Ryan.

"Green Pays on Green Days is a fun and educational program that celebrates the progress the Chicago area has made on clean air and provides another incentive to work together so we can all continue to reduce pollution," said Director Cipriano.

"Through Green Pays on Green Days, residents of the Chicago metro area will have the opportunity to pledge that they will take one or more 'green actions' on Ozone Action Days when weather conditions are favorable for smog formation." Director Cipriano added.

"Green actions" can include carpooling or taking public transit, refueling after dark, deferring gas-powered lawn mowing, and conserving energy.

"By sending in their Clean Air Pledge, citizens will also be entered into drawings for environmentally-friendly prize packages on Green Days when air quality is good," said Director Cipriano.

The pledge/entry forms can be submitted online at the NBC5.com web site or through mail-in forms on the weather page of the Friday Chicago Sun-Times starting in late May.

The Air Quality Index, which is also being introduced to the area for this summer, is a six-color system which classifies air quality from "good" or "green" through increments down to "hazardous" or maroon."

In addition to the prize drawings on "Green Days" from May 27 to September 2, a grand prize drawing for a super ultra low emissions vehicle, such as an electric hybrid car, will be held at the end of the summer season. Other major environmentally-friendly prizes will also be announced later.

The prizes are made entirely possible through generous contributions from many of Illinois' leading corporations. (See list of sponsors).

In addition, radio and newspaper ads this summer promoting clean air action messages will be funded by federal Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality funds. The ads will feature "environmental superhero" Breathe Easy Man.

Green Pays on Green Days was announced at today's 7th annual Partners for Clean Air Awards Breakfast. Partners is a coalition of more than 300 companies, nonprofit organizations and government agencies, that is sponsoring Green Pays on Green Days with the Illinois EPA.

Partners' members voluntarily take actions, such as encouraging employee carpooling and public transit use, and energy conservation, on Ozone Action Days, when weather conditions are favorable for higher smog levels.

The Air Quality Index will provide more helpful information and guidance for sensitive populations, such as children and those with respiratory illnesses. AQI information is provided to weathercasters and weather pages throughout the region and will also be updated daily on the Partners for Clean Air web site---www.cleantheair.org.

Director Cipriano noted that later this spring Illinois EPA will ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to formally redesignate the Chicago area as being in "attainment" for meeting the one-hour federal health standard for ozone. Measurements at more than 20 air monitoring stations in the region demonstrate the attainment requirement has been met. The Chicago area would be the first in the nation to go from a "severe nonattainment" designation when the 1990 federal Clean Air Act was enacted, to attainment--- six years ahead of the U.S. EPA deadline and several other major metropolitan areas around the nation.

Green Pays on Green Days Sponsors

Major Sponsors

• BP
• 3M
• ADM Corn Products
• Envirotest Illinois, Inc.
• Exxon Mobil
• Midwest Generation
• The Clean Energy Community Foundation
• Abbott Laboratories

Financial & Product Sponsors

• Dow
• Reliant Energy
• Plano Metals, Inc.
• AAA - Chicago Motor Club
• Blitz USA
• City of Chicago
• Commonwealth Edison
• Illinois Corn Growers Association
• Owens-Corning
• United States Environmental Protection Agency

Special Thanks to:

• NBC Channel 5 - Chicago
• Clear Channel Radio
• Chicago Sun-Times
• American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago