'Green' Power Would Cost You in Naperville
Sep 22 - Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.
It will cost Naperville residents some extra green to go green.
Green electricity, or renewable energy, is power generated by pollution-free
methods using wind, sun, water or biodegrading material.
The measure to allow residents to add between $5 and $20 to their monthly
electric bill for the pollution-free power was tabled Tuesday by the city
council but will be discussed again Sept. 21.
Councilman Richard Furstenau asked it be stalled after railing against the
proposal and the nation's energy industry.
"I look at it with a jaundiced eye and anyone who has anything to do
with energy in this country after the shenanigans that have gone on in that
industry," he said. "What they're trying to do is put the seed in
everyone's mind that this green energy costs more, and in reality it doesn't
cost more and we shouldn't be charging the people of Naperville more for
it."
The proposal calls for a contract with Pennsylvania-based Community Energy to
provide renewable energy for the city's power grid based on the money it
receives from residents. By adding green electricity, power produced by
coal-fired or nuclear power plants would be reduced, supporters say.
The city would not make any money from the deal.
"All the energy goes into the same grid," said Michael Bevis, the
city's purchasing manager. "Your light burns just as bright, but what this
program does is reduce reliance on fossil fuels."
Bevis said companies must be certified by an independent auditor to sell such
energy.
John Halley, director of Midwest operations for Community Energy, said green
energy costs more because it's more expensive to produce.
"Every technology has its own set of economics," he said.
"With wind and solar power, it's all equipment costs."
The expectation is that money generated by users will go toward building more
green energy sources, Bevis said.
Naperville-based Conservation Foundation President Brook McDonald said there
are people willing to pay a premium for clean energy.
"People who don't care don't have to do it," he said. "But
what it does is start the ball rolling in using more clean energy resources in
the future."
The Naperville proposal calls for green energy to be produced by wind, water
and sun. Wind farms in Lee and Bureau counties are the latest generation of such
power sources.
Giant windmills that cost about $1.5 million each generate power many
communities are beginning to tap into. St. Charles began such a program almost a
year ago.
"I don't have a number, but it's very small," said Glynn Amburgey,
St. Charles superintendent of electric utilities. "Much less than 1 percent
of our customer level participates, and we have 14,000 customers."
Bevis said Naperville's participation goal is between 2.5 percent and 5
percent.
"We'd like to be more comprehensive and informative to get the public
more interested," he said. "The real goal here is to offer a
choice."