Energy and Environment
The Council of State Governments’ bipartisan, interstate and binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Energy and Environment Committee was established in late 2022. The group’s activities include developing policy resources as well as holding in-person and web-based events for legislators to exchange ideas and learn about key developments and innovations in the areas of energy and the environment. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Jon Davis. CSG Midwest also provides staff support to two other groups related to energy and environment issues: the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus and the Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Project.
The MLC Energy and Environment Committee met and led sessions in conjunction with the 2025 MLC Annual Meeting, which was held on July 27-30.
Committee agenda and sessions for Saskatoon
Summary of recent work and activities
In 2023-2024, the committee was led by Illinois Sen. Laura Ellman and Indiana Rep. Ethan Manning, co-chairs; and Ohio Rep. Sharon Ray, vice chair. During the 2023-2024 biennium, the committee:
- hosted in-person policy workshops for legislators on state strategies for building the Midwest’s energy workforce; and understanding policy options regarding critical minerals.
- developed an Issue Brief for legislators on policy options on the siting of wind and solar farms;
- hosted webinars on reconductoring existing electric transmission lines and the impact of data centers on water use and management.
- organized in-person meetings on topics such as PFAS legislation and policy; the impact to state laws of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decisions striking down the federal Chevron doctrine; an overview of the Midwestern electrical grid; and the potentially beneficial co-existence of solar panels and farmland.
2024 committee meeting: Information and resources
- “PFAS Legislation: A 50-State Overview” | Bill Kramer, Vice President, MultiState »
- “PFAS Environmental Regulations: Approaches, Current Impacts & Considerations” | Jake Wilhelm, Environmental Scientist, GSI Environmental »
- “PFAS Groundwater Standards” | Dr. Gavin Dehnert, Emerging Contaminant Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison & Wisconsin Sea Grant »
- Stateline Midwest article on “A Peek at the Post-Chevron World: Legislators Explore Implications of court Ruling, Recent State Actions” »
- Stateline Midwest article on “Keeping the ‘Lights On, Beer Cold, Water Warm’ ” »
- Agenda »
Hosted by the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus, The Council of State Governments' Midwestern Legislative Conference and the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues, this webinar will cover the economics of data centers and key considerations for state policymakers: revenue generation, job creation and more.
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Open to all, this webinar was designed for legislators, legislative staff, and other policy leaders. Participants learned about Extended Producer Responsibility laws and programs, including those in place in the Great Lakes region on both sides of the U.S-Canada border.
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Hear about the Alliance for the Great Lakes new report on emerging water uses, such as data centers, agriculture,…
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In conjunction with the 79th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saskatoon, Sask., the MLC Energy & Environment Committee will meet and lead policy sessions. The MLC Annual Meeting is being held July 27-30.
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