Peoria and the Pursuit of Environmental Sustainability

Central Illinois must engage economic development and environmental sustainability simultaneously.

We are all aware of the seemingly endless concern about environmental sustainability. The calls for change are universal. No longer are the warnings limited to Al Gore and the Sierra Club—now it’s the evening news anchor, it’s friends and neighbors, it’s multinational corporations. Green issues pervade the newspaper, and they’re the topic of operational meetings at work. Our nation’s scientific societies and journals confirm the reality of global warming, accelerated species extinction and resource depletion. Without corrective action, these issues have the potential to alter our very way of life.

So what can we in central Illinois do to support environmental sustainability? How can we collectively diminish the negative impact of our consumption patterns and increase the viability of our region now and in the future? There are certainly a plethora of options that we can all take on the individual level, but there are also large-scale policy initiatives that need to be addressed to improve our environmental situation. We have taken a number of positive green steps, and there is a great deal of potential for present and future action. Private firms and public figures are working to improve our natural world, using inventiveness, fiscal measures and existing resources to preserve and improve the environment.

The agricultural economy of our region has a vital role to play in energy production and sustainability. Renewable biofuels from corn, soybeans and other crops diversify our energy resources, providing clean-burning alternative resources. The Economic Development Council for Central Illinois recently endorsed the National 25 x ’25 Energy Alliance. “This organization is working toward utilizing renewable energy for at least 25 percent of America’s energy usage by the year 2025, while continuing to produce abundant and affordable food,” according to Vickie Clark, EDC Chief Operating Officer.

At the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, creativity, technical ability and broad vision combine to lead the charge in environmental sustainability. The technological commercialization supported at the Innovation Center has the potential to positively impact the environment, and it is important that the startup firms are supported and kept in the region. The market for environmentally sustainable products is growing exponentially, and the goods and services provided by Peoria NEXT firms seek to capitalize on the opportunity. These companies will not only improve the environment, but they will bring profits, growth and stability to our region.

For instance, companies like Firefly Energy and EcoThermics are working to satisfy the green market. Firefly Energy’s batteries use less lead and are lighter than traditional batteries, plus they exhibit improved performance and longevity. EcoThermics is working to reduce ozone-depleting refrigerants and improve efficiency in heating and cooling applications. As Peoria NEXT and area investors support these firms and others like them, the region is taking large steps toward environmental sustainability. The technological commercialization of startup firms will improve the local environment and economy, but it will also extend our positive impact throughout the world as our companies compete in the global marketplace.