Cool Cities
Mike Schneider, an intern from UIS, presented the results of the community greenhouse gas emissions inventory that calculated Springfield's carbon footprint. The inventory estimates city-wide global warming emissions for today and in 1990 to determine a goal for reducing our carbon footprint to Kyoto Protocol levels. This is an important first step for creating an action plan.
The study showed that half of our goal will already be met by more efficient power plant operations and the wind energy purchase following the Sierra Club/CWLP agreement regarding the new power plant.
The next steps will be planned with help from the Mayor's newly announced Cool Cities Advisory Council. TV20 did a good story on that today.
Wind Power and Renewable Energy Credits
CWLP is now using all 120 MW of wind power capacity called for in the Sierra Club agreement. There were several questions about whether that specific power is physically used in Springfield. The grid works in such a way that we can't even know that power generated by CWLP plants is necessarily used in Springfield. It all goes onto the grid.
The Renewable Choice program begins soon. CWLP will offer renewable energy credits that can be included on your monthly bill. The program allows people to pay a little more to know that all power used for their home or business comes from renewable sources which increases market demand for clean energy.
This will be beyond the approximately 19% of wind energy CWLP is already purchasing to supply its customers. Bill Mills expects an ordinance approving the program to be considered by the city council in a week or two.
Power Plant Progress
The new Dallman 4 power plant is expected to be finished ahead of schedule. They plan to fire the first boiler in April and have it able to sync to the grid in May. Although they're ahead of schedule with the new plant, they appear to be behind schedule with their commitment to reduce polluting emissions from their existing Dallman 1-3 coal units.
Obama's Stimulus Package
For some reason, Mills seemed reluctant to use the vaguely suggestive name for Obama's stimulus package. He outlined money the stimulus package is ready to unload on Springfield and CWLP related to renewable energy and efficiency programs, plus possibilities for additional funds from competitive grants. I've read articles about the massive shot of money the bill dishes out for renewable energy and green infrastructure but the presentation was an eye opener to how many ways it could be used locally.
I came away feeling very good about the fact that CWLP is doing these meetings. The next one is June 11, 6:00pm at the Illinois National Bank conference center, at 4th and Jackson Street in Springfield.