Nara Schoenberg

Nara Schoenberg is a former reporter for the Tribune.

Gente andando junto a un charco cerca de la intersección de las avenidas Damen y Milwaukee después de que un sistema de tormentas atravesara la zona el 30 de marzo de 2025 en Chicago. Se emitió una alerta de tornado para la zona, con más de 10.5 millones de residentes, que abarca 10 condados del noreste de Illinois y cinco condados del norte de Indiana. El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional informó que los pronósticos también incluían la posibilidad de granizo disperso del tamaño de pelotas de ping pong y ráfagas de viento generalizadas de hasta 70 mph. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

A medida que se intensifica la temporada de tornados, aumentan los riesgos por los recortes al servicio meteorológico de Trump, dicen los expertos

April 15, 2025 at 7:56 p.m.

Las sueltas de globos meteorológicos del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional -que rastrean la temperatura, la presión y la velocidad del viento- se han suspendido temporalmente en Omaha (Nebraska) y Rapid City...

Jared Salvatore, right, and Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar install a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg on Nov. 30, 2023. (Talia Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

Red tape is raising costs and slowing the adoption of solar in Illinois, report says

May 6, 2025 at 10:20 a.m.

Among the results: The state is viewed as 'a very good market because of all the incentives, but an absolute nightmare to operate in.'

People walk past a puddle near the intersection of Damen and Milwaukee avenues after a storm system passed through the area on March 30, 2025, in Chicago. A tornado watch was issued for the area with over 10.5 million residents spanning 10 counties in northeastern Illinois and five counties in northern Indiana. The National Weather Service said forecasts also included the possibility of scattered hail as big as ping pong balls and widespread wind gusts up to 70 mph.(Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

As tornado season ramps up, risks rise from Trump weather service cuts, experts say

April 3, 2025 at 10:10 a.m.

Weather balloon releases — tracking temperature, pressure and wind speed — have been suspended or reduced in the Midwest and Great Plains.

Trucks and other vehicles travel through the intersection of South 41st Street and Pulaski Road on March 12, 2025, on Chicago's Southwest Side. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Stricter truck pollution rule would prevent 500 deaths a year in Chicago region, study shows

March 18, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

It would require that manufacturers of medium and heavy-duty trucks slowly ramp up the number of zero-emissions vehicles sold.

Double Black Diamond Solar near Waverly, south of Springfield, is set to be the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi River on July 31, 2024, in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

A record year for solar in Illinois, and nationwide: ‘Customers want it’

March 11, 2025 at 5:55 p.m.

Solar accounted for 66% of all new electricity generating capacity added to the U.S. grid in 2024, outpacing wind and natural gas.

Naomi Davis, founder and CEO of Blacks in Green, on Feb. 14, 2025, in one of the Chicago alleys where her organization is planning a four-block geothermal network. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

Clean geothermal energy to heat and cool West Woodlawn homes: ‘An example for the entire country.’

March 6, 2025 at 11:24 a.m.

Plastic pipes beneath Chicago alleys will tap into year-round underground temperatures of about 55 degrees.

Double Black Diamond Solar near Waverly, south of Springfield, is set to be the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi River. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Illinoisans push for a new clean energy law: ‘We are not going back.’

March 4, 2025 at 7:21 p.m.

With large-scale energy storage, giant batteries would absorb wind and solar energy when it's not needed, and release it when it is.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference announcing federal funding for renewable energy in Illinois awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Ports Program and Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program in Chicago on Nov. 15, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)

Federal funding freeze lifted for some Illinois clean energy projects

March 3, 2025 at 6:28 a.m.

With the fight over a federal clean energy funding freeze entering its second month, two of the biggest prizes in Illinois are emissions-reduction grants totaling more than $570 million. Now,...

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten leads a roundtable discussion with clean energy leaders on Jan. 31, 2025, in Lisle. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois clean energy leaders strategize in wake of Trump orders: ‘Make this about consumers’

February 1, 2025 at 2:50 p.m.

A roundtable hosted by U.S. Rep. Sean Casten offered a sneak peek at the strategies Illinois clean energy supporters are considering as President Trump threatens to reduce funding for wind...

The production line at EVBox’s U.S. Headquarters in Libertyville on Oct. 27, 2023. Netherlands-based EVBox is part of the state’s growing EV manufacturing and the charger it produces is crucial to development of a reliable national EV charging infrastructure. (Troy Stolt/for the Chicago Tribune)

Trump order freezes funding for Illinois EV charging network, raises questions about other clean energy projects

January 27, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.

It also pauses funds from Biden’s climate law, including incentives for solar and wind projects and a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for EV buyers.

All Stories