Posts

Posted on

Naperville’s Coal Problem Isn’t About Price

MythReality
Naperville continues with its coal-heavy provider because it’s widely believed that solar and wind are more expensive than coal.Solar and wind have been cheaper than coal for over a decade, according to levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) data. Because of this, solar has been the fastest-growing source of new electricity in the U.S. for five years straight.

Despite solar and wind becoming significantly cheaper over the past decade—as shown by the steady decline in their levelized costs compared to coal—Naperville remains locked into a coal-heavy contract signed in 2007 that doesn’t expire until 2035, preventing a switch to cleaner, more affordable energy for years to come.

Posted on

City Council Vote on IMEA Contract: August 19

The stage is set for the Naperville City Council to vote at their meeting on August 19 whether to extend the IMEA contract until 2055.  Our Council members will continue to hear from pro-fossil fuel voices and we anticipate that they will be showing up to the City Council meeting the evening of the vote. We need to make sure that Council knows that those of us who support a responsible transition to clean energy and who oppose the irresponsible commitment to a coal-heavy contract that extends 30 years in the future are the strong majority of Naperville residents.

Let’s Do This
1. Come to the Council meeting at 7:00PM on August 19 and wear red.
2. Write your Council members.
3. Signup to make a public comment or written comment on August 19.  Online sign-up for a particular meeting is available once the meeting agenda is published on the City’s website, typically the Wednesday prior to the date of the meeting

Before the meeting on the 19th Power a Better Future, a student organization that is part of the Say No To Coal Consortium will hold a rally at the Municipal Center starting at 6:00.  Wear red, join the rally and feel the energy to build momentum going into that night’s city council meeting.

Looking forward to seeing you August 19.

Mary Gibson: Gibsonm@naperville.il.us
Ian Holzhauer: Holzhaueri@naperville.il.us
Patrick Kelly: KellyP@naperville.il.us
Allison Longenbaugh:  LongenbaughA@naperville.il.us
Josh McBroom: McBroomJ@naperville.il.us
Ashfaq Syed: Syeda@naperville.il.us
Scott Wehrli (Mayor): WehrliS@naperville.il.us
Benny White: WhiteB@naperville.il.us
Nate Wilson: WilsonN@naperville.il.us

Posted on

Naperville’s Long Term Energy Options

On Monday, July 28, the City of Naperville is hosting a workshop to review and discuss various priorities, key considerations and strategies for our city’s long term energy options.

The workshop is open to the public.

The Mayor, City Council and key members of the City Leadership team will receive presentations from:

  • Consultants Townsend, Pruitt and CES
  • Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force
  • The Public Utilities Advisory Board

We encourage you to attend so that your voice is heard.

NEST has requested that the city employ a process that engages with residents, promotes freedom of choice and flexibility, and prioritizes fiscal responsibility in the city’s energy procurement process.

No final action can be taken at the workshop.  The City Council will vote on the IMEA extension at the August 19 City Council Meeting.

Monday July 28 at 6:00PM
Council Chambers
400 S. Eagle Street

RSVP Here

Posted on

This City Is Funding One of America’s Dirtiest Coal Plants

We need to speak up now. It doesn’t matter if you are in Naperville, Detroit, or the Solomon Islands, this issue affects all of us. This issue will not affect the people who make it, rather it will affect young people. We are abetting some of the worst carbon pollution in Illinois, and it is time to take a stand.

Share this video to everyone you can, we need to make a change NOW.

Directors: Adi Julka, Adithya Karthik

Editor: Adi Julka

Researchers: Adi Julka, Adithya Kathrik

Narrators: Adi Julka, Adithya Karthik

Sources:
– https://coal.sierraclub.org/deadly-impact-of-coal-pollution
– https://images.app.goo.gl/yKW4CfW8qoHgcLR98
– https://www.utilitydive.com/news/renewables-cheaper-energy-than-99-percent-of-us-coal-plants-just-energy-transition/642393/
– https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/blog/2023/02/prairie-state-makes-list-deadliest-coal-plants
– https://prairierivers.org/uncategorized/2021/07/prairie-state-coal-plant-debunked/
– https://prairierivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Prairie-State-Replacement-Cost-Fact-Check-1.pdf
– https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/05/26/prairie-state-coal-plant/
– https://rmi.org/insight/transition-opportunities-for-prairie-state-energy-campus/, https://naperville.granicus.com/player/clip/1695?view_id=4&redirect=true
– https://utilitytransitionhub.rmi.org/economic-dispatch/

Posted on

Come to the Naperville City Council meeting on July 15 at 7:00PM and wear red!

Fossil fuel interests are following their well practiced playbook of spreading half-truths and cherry-picking data to garner support for extending the IMEA contract all the way until 2055. Our Council members are hearing from these pro-fossil fuel voices and we anticipate that they will be showing up to the City Council meeting this coming Tuesday, July 15. We need to make sure that Council knows that those of us who support a responsible transition to clean energy and who oppose the irresponsible commitment to a coal-heavy contract that extends 30 years in the future are the strong majority of Naperville residents.

If you want to make a public comment, the deadline is 6:30PM Tuesday.  You can sign up here:

https://www.naperville.il.us/government/board-and-commissions/city-council-meetings-and-workshops/city-council-speaker-sign-up/speaker

RSVP here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-C3WYgMVwW5KdUHJpge2mc2h4J8tdacH4TquG3jiGUnv_tA/viewform