Howard Learner
Howard A. Learner is an experienced attorney who serves as the President and 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 global warming problems, improving the Midwest's environmental quality, and preserving the region's natural resources and heritage. One of ELPC’s premises is that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together.
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. He has successfully represented environmental and consumer organizations in complex civil litigation in the federal and state courts. He has both significant appellate and trial experience.
Mr. Learner 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). He and the Center received ShoreBank’s Green Neighbor Award (2007), the American Wind Energy Association’s National Wind Energy Advocacy Award (2004) and WPWR-TV Channel 50 Foundation’s Award for Sustained Excellence in Advocacy (1999). Mr. Learner appears in Crain's Chicago Business' “Who’s Who in Chicago Business”.
Mr. Learner is an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Law School, teaching an advanced seminar on environmental law and sustainable development, and he has a Lecturer appointment at the University of Chicago where he teaches environmental law and policy. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Council for Renewable Energy, Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Association, and Wind on the Wires. He recently served on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Environmental Law Institute and as a Trustee and Chair of the Grantmaking Committee of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School (1980), and a B.A. from the University of Michigan (1976).