Green Drinks Group to Meet Wednesday at Duke's

The public is invited to "Green Drinks McHenry County" on Wednesday at Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N. Main St. Crystal Lake.

The gathering will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.

Held upstairs at Duke’s, join Green Drinks for information and inspiration, business and pleasure. Attendees will talk about “greening” the future with. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol. Non-alcoholic drinks are available.

The topic this month is: The Real Cost of Coal.

With the largest recoverable bituminous coal reserves in the nation, Illinois is literally coal country. Proponents of coal call it the cheap and abundant fuel of the future, touting “clean coal technologies” as the key to its future promise. 

But is coal really clean and inexpensive when fully considering its environmental and health affects?

Pam and Lan Richart, co-directors of the Eco-Justice Collaborative, will take attendees on an Illinois coal tour that most people don’t see, sharing environmental and social insights on mining from its extraction to its waste disposal. Through the presentation, the group will explore the price of ramping up our Illinois coal economy.

About the presenters:

Lan and Pam Richart are co-founders of the non-profit organization called Eco-Justice Collaborative http://ecojusticecollaborative.org/ .

Pam is a land-use planner by profession, and Lan is an ecologist. For over 20 years they were principals and owners of a land use and environmental consulting firm located in the western suburbs of Chicago. 

During this time they worked on projects throughout the Midwest, providing consulting services in the areas of land use planning; natural resource conservation and management; and the assessment of the environmental impacts of state and federally funded public works projects. 

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “Like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.