Naperville’s electrical supplier – the Illinois Municipal Electrical Association (IMEA) – has asked the city to extend its contract. 80% of the energy IMEA delivers to Naperville comes from coal-burning power plants. Our current contract doesn’t expire until 2035, but IMEA is asking for the vote on the extension by April 2025, ten years early. The $2 Billion extension could be entirely paid by Naperville ratepayers and last until 2055!
We want the city to say no to coal:
- The $2 billion contract extension is financially risky for residents, businesses and our schools
- By extending now we miss opportunities to save money using emerging, clean technologies
- The continued burning of coal causes health and environmental hazards that can only be mitigated by closing the plants
- Extending the contract prevents the city from engaging in an open and fair bidding process where the free market could compete for Naperville’s business
- We cannot break our existing contract, will not be able to break our extension, and would be stuck with it for the next thirty years