Howard Learner

Earth Day 1970 sounded an alarm. It launched the modern environmental movement, bringing cleaner air that's healthier to breathe, cleaner water that's safer to drink and enjoy for recreation, and fewer dangerous toxics in our communities. Today, the growing green economy is helping to drive the Midwest's and our nation's...

As we begin this new year, let's recognize an important long-delayed success finalized by the Obama Administration in late 2011.

On December 21st, the U.S. EPA announced the first-ever national standards to reduce mercury, arsenic, cadmium and other toxic air pollutants from coal plants by requiring installation of...

In today's politically polarized environment, legislative and judicial actions tend to be characterized as either stunning victories or crushing defeats. The media reporting and hyperbolic press releases on the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in American Electric Power, et al. v. Connecticut, et al. (AEP) involving actions to...

Last week, Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected $2.4 billion in federal funds to build a modern passenger rail line between Orlando and Tampa that would have created jobs and supercharged Florida's tourism industry. Instead, he placed short-sighted partisan politics above people's transportation needs and job creation. Governor Scott's apparent motivations...

The BP and Enbridge oil spill disasters reminded everyone of the dangers from our addiction to oil. Most Americans are looking for cleaner and safer ways to power our cars and heat our homes. The good news is that shifting to cleaner cars and trucks can create new jobs, improve...

Many of us are excited by the new plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) coming into the market later this year. They're cool, high-tech and use less gasoline from countries that don't like us very much and threaten America's national security. They're a big winner for reducing pollution in the targeted markets....

Investing in modern, fast, comfortable and convenient higher-speed rail service is a smart move. Better rail service will improve mobility, reduce pollution, create new jobs and spur economic growth.

The new federal investment is about more than "just speed" to succeed. "Modern, comfortable and convenient" count as much as...

Rural transportation has traditionally meant cars and pickups, highways and Greyhound buses. While the intercity buses are fewer and farther between, however, that doesn't change people's needs to get from place to place. Most people have cars and trucks, but some elderly or disabled people can no longer drive easily....

The confluence of multiple economic and policy factors creates a huge strategic opportunity to advance solar power installations in the Midwest. This window of opportunity will likely be open for about two years while solar photovoltaic (PV) module prices are very low due to excess global supply. Soon after, hoped-for...

The world has changed. Just a few years ago, many people thought that high-speed rail development here was just a dream. Now, it's moving to reality. President Obama has made high-speed rail development his #1 national transportation priority fifty years after President Eisenhower advanced the build-out of the nation's interstate...

It's time to gear up to seize the opportunities to advance a greener economy and cleaner environment with the new Administration and new Congress. The Midwest and Great Plains states can become business and economic winners in growing the new green economy as discussed in previous blog posts. Moreover, when...

Let's face it. America's economy is bad shape. Some will seize upon the troubled times to argue that we should cut back on investing in clean energy and environmental protection. But that's the wrong direction both for today and for the future.

For today, energy efficiency makes...

The naysayers keep arguing that reducing global warming pollution is too expensive, too hard, will cost too much money and will irreparably harm our economy. We've heard this refrain before. Seat belts supposedly would dramatically increase the costs of cars, make no safety difference and wouldn't be used by drivers...

The threats from global warming and the promises of new clean technologies are transforming our economy. As Senator Obama calls for a "new energy economy" that can create 5 million new green jobs, there is a foreseeable roadmap if he becomes President.

Within the next three years, one city will...