Former Region lawmaker leading new Indiana environmental advocacy organization

A former Northwest Indiana state consultant now could be main operations all through the Hoosier State for a nationwide environmental advocacy group.

Chris Chyung, a Democrat who represented Dyer, Schererville and close by areas within the Indiana Home from 2018 to 2020, just lately was named govt director of Indiana Conservation Voters, the brand new state affiliate of the League of Conservation Voters.

“I’m thrilled to steer Indiana Conservation Voters,” Chyung mentioned. “Indiana has limitless potential to enhance its setting, economic system and aggressive edge.”

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb delivers his annual “State of the State” handle Jan. 10, 2023, to members of the Indiana Home and Senate on the Statehouse in Indianapolis.

Chyung beforehand labored as marketing campaign supervisor on the Middle for American Progress, the place he partnered with the League of Conservation Voters in 2022 to assist win congressional passage and presidential approval of the Inflation Discount Act.

The brand new regulation gives billions of federal {dollars} to states and native governments to make use of for local weather, power and conservation applications and incentives, from which Chyung mentioned Indiana uniquely stands to learn.

“Each Hoosier throughout the state deserves clear air, clear water and clear power — and by combining large investments from new federal laws with Hoosier values and insurance policies, Indiana Conservation Voters could make {that a} actuality,” he mentioned.

League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski mentioned the nationwide group is assured Indiana Conservation Voters, led by Chyung, will make a distinction relating to defending and restoring Indiana’s setting.

“Wow, man. What a scene. You possibly can’t make up what we see out right here on any given day,” Hobart patrol officer Tommie Tatum mentioned.

Jerry Davich, The Occasions

“The state has critical environmental challenges, from restoring clear rivers and streams to mitigating industrial air pollution. However Indiana Conservation Voters additionally understands that the state has unimaginable potential to steer the cost for brand new good paying clear power jobs and a simply transition for communities throughout the state,” Karpinski mentioned.

Chyung is a 2010 graduate of Munster Excessive College. He earned his bachelor’s diploma at Columbia College in New York.

His Statehouse tenure got here to an abrupt finish when he was defeated within the 2020 common election by state Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, the identical lawmaker Chyung toppled in 2018 to win a seat within the Indiana Home.