President Preckwinkle, along with representatives from the Bureau of Asset Management and Department of Environment and Sustainability, announced today Cook County’s first power purchase agreement for renewable energy. The agreement was reached as part of a broader transaction with Constellation and Swift Current Energy. Starting in March 2025, Cook County’s asset portfolio will source approximately 24% of its electricity (about 49,000 MWh) from a new, off-site solar project in Illinois.

The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control urges pet owners to take special precautions to protect the health and welfare of their pets during excessive summer heat. The department offers the following tips for pet owners to keep in mind:

Initiative will launch with $5 million of grants to be awarded in 2023

Hot, humid and potentially stormy weather conditions will move across Cook County starting on Wednesday and ending Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Peak afternoon heat index values between 95 – 105 degrees are expected.

Overwhelming majority of cases involve fentanyl

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed 2,000 opioid overdose deaths for 2022, breaking the previous record of 1,935 set in 2021. More than 91% of opioid overdose deaths involved fentanyl. Fentanyl is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. 

Award recognizes the County’s first-ever Center for Hard to Recycle Materials

Today, the office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced events and details for the upcoming fifth Annual Racial Equity Week. This year’s celebration will be held September 11-15, 2023, in communities and spaces throughout Cook County. This year’s theme is "Interwoven Narratives, Collective Impact: Celebrating 5 years of Racial Equity Week.” The events and programming aim to encourage residents to use their imaginations to understand justice and equity at the intersections of identities. 

The Cook County Board of Commissioners recemtly approved funding for transportation-related projects for the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH). These vital projects boost economic development, build up regional transportation and improve the quality of life throughout Cook County.

Today, officials from the Cook County property tax system announced second installment property tax bills for Tax Year 2022 are expected to be available to property owners by November 1, 2023. Nearly 1.8 million tax bills are expected to be released online and by mail by early November with a due date of December 1, 2023.