environmental solutions for business

A pro-business regulatory landscape? We make it possible.

We’re on a mission.

Advocate Members' interests before state agencies, primarily the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Pollution Control Board;

Negotiate environmental policies, laws, and regulations. as they are promulgated, administered, and implemented by the State of Illinois; and

Provide accurate and technically sound input early in the legislative and regulatory development processes to promote favorable outcomes for the Illinois business community.

our values

Since day one, we've believed that environmental challenges facing Illinois are solvable by balancing reasonable economically-feasible regulations, scientific data, and our desire to protect the environment to carefully craft a pro-business climate in Illinois.
Networking

IERG is affiliated with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Environmental Affairs Committee. In building connections at networking events both hosted and attended by IERG staff, we progress industry support in regulation. IERG is proud to have professional relations with IDNR, the IPCB, the IEPA, & US EPA Region 5.

Education

IERG’s Members-only portal offers regulatory updates and summaries of incoming legal proposals.  IERG hosts timely and relevant monthly webinars and quarterly seminars regarding environmental regulation, legislation, and policy.

Advocacy

IERG staff attends meetings held by prominent regulatory bodies to monitor progress and stakeholder outreach.  IERG expends effort to draft both regulatory language and detailed comments on proposals put forth by regulatory agencies as well as testify on behalf of Members at hearings.

our impact

Four decades of business-first service

December 1985
2000
2006
August 2015
July 2018
January 2023
May 2023
August 2023
December 2, 1985

IERG was incorporated. 

1994

Implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendments.

2000

IERG joins the World Wide Web.

2006

IERG is a leader on TACO developments.

January 2015

SB1672 Introduced by Senator Sue Rezin. An IERG & IL Chamber of Commerce initiative on PSD Permitting.

May 31, 2015

SB1672 passed by General Assembly.

August 25, 2015

SB1672 signed into law as Public Act 99-463.

July 2018

PSD Rulemaking begins before the Illinois Pollution Control Board

January–May 2019

IERG participates in legislative discussions and provided testimony on the proposal of Coal Ash Cleanup and Storage Act (Public Act 101-171)

August 27, 2020

The Illinois Pollution Control Board finalizes the rulemaking R19-1 PSD Permitting Rules.

January 2023

USEPA Region Administrator Debra Shore and her team meets with IERG Executive Team

May 2023

HB 3017 — Permitting Portal

our team

Meet our team.

Kelly Thompson

Executive Director
About

Tara Bosaw

Office Manager
About

Marissa Wesley

Policy & Research Analyst
About

Trejahn Hunter

Legal Counsel
About

Marisa Thompson

Project Manager
About

Toby Frevert

Water Consultant
About

Don Sutton

Air Consultant
About

our board

Meet our Executive Committee.

Chris Polley
Environmental Engineer 
Deere & Company 
Equipment and Services Sector
Andrea Coffman
Regional Environmental Director 
ADM
Food, Pharmaceuticals, and Health Sector
Ross Bunton
Environmental Director
Prairie State Generating Company
Electrical and Utilities Sector
Brad Stevenson
Corporate EHS Manager 
Caterpillar 
Transportation Sector
Chris Backos
Senior EHSS Manager  
Stepan Company
Chemicals Sector
Beth Steinhour
Director of Environmental Affairs 
Marquis
Food, Pharmaceuticals, and Health Sector
Evan Buskohl
Environmental Engineer
Sterling Steel
Manufacturing Sector
Brad Sims
Environment, Regulatory, and Sustainably Advisor 
ExxonMobil Oil Corporation 
Petroleum Sector
Troy Lively
Supervisor, Environmental & Sustainability
Olin
Manufacturing Sector
Greg Meyers
Corporate Environmental & Air Quality Leader
Marathon Petroleum Company, LP
Petroleum Sector
Brian Martin
Senior Manager 
Ameren
Electrical and Utilities Sector