Howard A. Learner

Howard A. Learner is an experienced attorney who serves as the Executive Director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center – the Midwest's leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization. Mr. Learner is responsible for the overall strategic leadership, policy direction and financial platform for ELPC’s successful work promoting clean energy development solutions to climate change problems, improving environmental quality, and preserving natural resources and heritage.  ELPC core premise is that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together, and ELPC’s multidisciplinary professional staff puts that policy principle into practice.  Mr. Learner previously served as General Counsel for Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, specializing in complex environmental, energy, economic development and civil rights litigation and policy advocacy. 

 

Much of Mr. Learner’s work has concentrated on developing and advocating new directions on environmental policy issues, including: developing clean renewable energy and energy efficiency resources to avoid global warming and other pollution from conventional power plants; designing “smart growth” transportation and land use strategies and leading national and regional efforts to develop a high-speed rail network that can produce complementary environmental quality, economic development and employment benefits; and protecting the Midwest’s wild and natural forests, waterways and biodiversity.

 

Mr. Learner recently received Leadership Greater Chicago’s Distinguished Leadership Fellow Award for the 25th Anniversary (2009), Chicago Magazine’s Green Leader Award (2009) and U.S. Green Building Council – Chicago Chapter’s Natural Leader Award – "Intent to Matter" (2009).  He previously received the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Federal Bar Association’s Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service (2006), the Public Interest Law Initiative’s Distinguished Public Service Award (2005) and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s National Champion of Energy Efficiency Award for Energy Policy (2002). 

 

Mr. Learner received his law degree from Harvard Law School (1980), and a B.A. (Honors) from the University of Michigan (1976).  He is an (Adjunct) Professor at Northwestern University Law School and at the University of Michigan Law School, teaching advanced seminars on energy law and climate change policy, and on environmental law and sustainable development.  He is married to Lauren Rosenthal, an attorney, and with their three children, they live in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago.