SEATTLE - Halloween costumes are supposed to be scary, but Washington parents may not realize quite how scary. They probably don't expect to expose their children to lead and other chemicals when getting them ready to go trick-or-treating. But in recent tests, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found lead and chromium in face paint, and other contaminants, such as P-V-C, in masks and spray-on hair color. Leeann Brown, press associate in the toxics department at the EWG, says it's hard to know what's safe, because reading the labels doesn't always help.

"We found many of these were imported, and there wasn't much information available to the consumer. But people should be aware that the contaminants we found weren't listed on the label. We had to test for them to find them."

Many of the items tested and found to contain harmful substances came from unknown companies, or companies that don't list phone numbers or addresses. So, parents are urged to do a little research on Halloween products, or just make their kids' costumes this week, at home.

Pediatrician Marny Turnvil is not surprised by the findings. She says more than 80,000 chemicals are approved for use in consumer goods, and with little safety testing, children are at greater risk today than in past generations.

"They are starting their lives with a bigger body burden of chemicals to begin with because we have exponentially increased the number of chemicals in our society every ten years since 1940."

"Safer Halloween" tips are online at www.ewg.org


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By Lydia Larsen for Inside Climate News.
Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration

The Green Energy Justice Cooperative recently placed first, second and fourth in the Illinois Power Agency's second round of community-driven community solar project selection.

Being selected for this solar development program, made possible through the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, represents an important step in developing and building clean energy projects in Illinois communities. The co-op, founded by environmental justice group Blacks in Green and local partners, is now applying for renewable energy credits totaling $12.5 million.

Green Energy Justice Cooperative's proposals are for three solar developments that together will produce nine megawatts of solar power. The developments, planned for development in or near Aurora, Naperville and Romeoville, will bring down energy costs in low- and moderate-income households as well as Black and brown communities west of Chicago.

Once completed, the projects will allow households that don't have access to or ownership of a rooftop to save money on their electric bills. Subscribers become co-owners of the cooperative and have a voice in the management and share in the profits generated.

Project leaders are now proceeding with applications for renewable energy credits from the Illinois Power Agency, which will help finance the project's development.

"That's a major piece that makes the project financially viable and feasible," said Wasiu Adesope, the project manager at Blacks in Green.

While those renewable energy credits will provide an important piece of funding, the project will also need more financing. Adesope said that they're not just looking for traditional lenders, but financiers that are invested in their cooperative's mission.

While in some cases renewable energy development is located far from the communities who use it, the GEJC developments will be built for and by the community. The Illinois Power Agency's community-driven community solar criteria states that local communities initiate the development and that the projects are located in those communities.

'We Have to Be Involved in Big Projects'

Nearly a decade ago, as part of his position at Heaven's View Christian Fellowship in Peoria, Illinois, the Rev. Tony Pierce began organizing around climate issues and assisting in negotiations for the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act. The bill, which passed in 2016, led to a solar workforce training program that Pierce helped found.

"If we're talking about creating jobs that are going to move people out of poverty into the middle class, particularly with BIPOC people, then we have to be involved in big projects that could hire people at scale," Pierce, the vice president of GEJC, said.

Blacks in Green developed the Green Energy Justice Cooperative with multiple community based organizations, including nonprofits and LLCs affiliated with Pierce's church, in the Chicago area. Pierce said they wanted to develop and own these solar projects.

Pierce and other organizers weren't completely satisfied with some of the 2016 law's outcomes. Despite the fact that 40 percent of the Illinois population identify as people of color, BIPOC contractors ended up with less than 2 percent of the revenue from the Future Energy Jobs Act, according to Pierce.

Pierce returned to the state capital to negotiate what would become the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. He knew they needed to create programs that would enable BIPOC contractors to benefit from the clean energy transition. Although the Future Energy Jobs Act created a community solar program that allowed subscribers to share a large solar project and collect credits for their share of the generated power, few of these projects ended up in Black and brown communities.

The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, passed in 2021, created the state's community-driven community solar program. This program included more involvement from local communities and rules surrounding the projects meant a portion went specifically to Black and brown communities. The new program gets more BIPOC contractors and communities involved than the traditional community solar program.

People who participate in the solar training program will be doing much of the installation of the community-driven community solar projects, including those GEJC proposed. The developments are now on track to become one of the biggest non-utility-based solar developments owned by a clean energy co-op, according to BIG.

This type of solar development has been seen in other parts of the country, like those developed in Minnesota by Cooperative Energy Futures, a developer providing guidance to GEJC. Adesope is looking forward to seeing it further implemented in Illinois.

"I've seen disenfranchised communities that are usually at the receiving end of various programs where you have the imposition of models," Adesope said. "But this model ... every member has equal decision-making ability."


Lydia Larsen wrote this article for Inside Climate News.


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Arizona is among states that have considered passing consumer privacy laws but have yet to do so. While the state doesn't have anything on the books, one expert contends it is an opportunity for Arizona to take action.

R.J. Cross, co-author of Arizona PIRG Education Fund's "The State of Privacy" report, along with experts from the Electronic Privacy Information Center, evaluated how states' privacy laws aim to protect users. They found what they call "weak, industry-friendly" laws that allow tech companies to collect data about consumers without "meaningful limits."

The more data companies collect from users, she said, the more that data is at risk.

"Industry lobbyists are playing a full-court press in the states, pressuring lawmakers who want to protect consumers to water down their bills," she said, "and it is unfortunate how many times we have seen that be successful."

Cross, director of the PIRG Education Fund's Don't Sell My Data Campaign, said no laws should be written by the companies they are meant to regulate. Despite Congress having failed to enact the American Data Privacy and Protection Act in 2022, the report says state legislators can use its bipartisan framework to adapt existing state laws or create new ones.

More than 80% of Americans are concerned about how companies collect and use their data, according to the Pew Research Center.

As more tech companies collect data, Cross said, the more our data is at risk of being exposed in a breach or hack. That means valuable information can end up in the hands of identity thieves, scammers or brokers that buy and sell data. Cross called on Arizona and federal policy makers to step up and better protect consumers' data, but added that, in the meantime consumers can take proactive steps to protect themselves by not using web cookies and downloading the Consumer Reports app called "Permission Slip" that can tell data brokers to delete their data.

"You can download that," she said, "and send one deletion request to hundreds of companies with one push of a button, saying, 'Hey, if you have my data, I want you to delete it.' Again that is totally free from Consumer Reports and we do strongly suggest that people, while we are waiting for strong regulations, take advantage of that."

While some states have passed laws, Cross said, they have loopholes that allow companies to continue collecting data. She added that certain laws may grant consumers the right to ask for the deletion of their data, but said that could mean individual requests have to be sent to every company, which is what Cross called a "part-time job."

Many Wisconsinites have received their income documents for filing taxes.

A long-standing program geared toward low to moderate-income adults is back again this year to provide free in-person and virtual assistance in preparing returns. AARP has its Tax-Aide sites open around the state. The organization said 650 volunteers completed more than 23,000 returns for Wisconsin residents last year.

Darrin Wasniewski, tax aide liaison for AARP Wisconsin, said the program can help people with limited resources avoid overpaying or turning to tax prep services they cannot afford. He said the no-cost assistance might make a refund stretch a little further.

"Even a modest refund for somebody who's living on Social Security can go a long way to helping alleviate some of the financial stress that they might be under," Wasniewski explained.

The volunteers are trained and IRS-certified to ensure they are caught up on the latest changes to the tax code. Wasniewski noted the virtual help carried out by volunteers is pretty expansive.

"They've also been able to knock it down to one-visit scans, so that you can just come once, give your documents," Wasniewski pointed out. "Then complete everything electronically online after that, going right over to just providing online coaching."

As for in-person help, AARP's website lists 120 tax prep sites in Wisconsin this year. Most of them are senior and community centers, as well as public libraries. The organization said you do not have to be a member to receive the assistance.