When negotiations first began, I thought finding common ground would be impossible as long as CWLP insisted on building a coal-fire power plant. The fact that an agreement was made is due in large part to CWLP's willingness to look at new ways of doing things. By sitting down at the table with the Sierra Club, CWLP will save at least $100 million dollars in costs associated with delays and legal fees. This is the smarter and cheaper way of working out differences as opposed to the long legal battles that the Sierra Club engages in with some privately owned utilities.
In my view, the most exciting aspect is that CWLP will become one of the largest suppliers of renewable wind energy in Illinois. The State, which is CWLP's largest single customer, has agreed to power its buildings in Springfield with wind energy. State government will pay the extra cost of the wind power. I've heard people say they thought Illinois was a poor state in which to build wind energy, but it’s actually one of the best if they're built in the right spot.
Additionally, individuals will now be able to participate in a clean energy buy-in program. I once lived in East Tennessee where the Tennessee Valley Authority offered a similar plan. Customers can now choose to pay a little extra on their bill in exchange for knowing that their energy comes from clean wind power. I've been hoping this option would become available in Springfield so I'm excited that customers will now have that choice.
Perhaps the best part for CWLP customers will be the energy efficiency and conservation programs. CWLP will spend some of the money it gets from selling excess power on programs to reduce energy usage, which will mean lower bills for many customers. I've heard one person claim this deal will cost customers more money but just the opposite is true!
The program will include an internship program with UIS for students to learn about marketing wind energy and implementing energy efficiency programs. New jobs will be created in the community for those updating houses and buildings to make them more energy efficient. That's one reason why local unions have shown their support.
The agreement includes provisions for the city to hold public hearings and encourage public involvement in determining how conservation and efficiency projects move forward. The Sierra Club pushed for that point because they feel broad public involvement is important.
Another part of the agreement involves changes in the design of the new plant, and improvements to the old plants, which will make them more efficient and pollute less. I'm not enough of an expert to know exactly how that works, but I like the results. Even further reductions in pollution levels will result from CWLP shutting down their two oldest, highest-polluting coal-fire plants.
The benefits Springfield residents will derive from the reduction in pollution levels are numerous. First, there will be a reduction in pollutants linked to increased asthma rates in children and the frequency of asthma attacks. I grew up in Springfield with asthma and I know how much money my parents spent on asthma medication each month. This deal is a relief to parents who go through that ordeal.
The agreement also results in massive reductions in CO2. CWLP will be in compliance with the Kyoto treaty protocols for carbon dioxide emissions. That means we'll be contributing less to the very real problem of global warming (real to everyone except those hired by polluting industries), and CWLP will already be in compliance when the government starts to regulate CO2 emissions. Personally, I'm proud that my utility is following pollution standards beyond the minimum required by law.
I know there are some people who will oppose this plan for their own political reasons or because they buy into the arguments of angry radio personalities who are subsidized by major polluters. I've run into a couple people who aren't even interested in hearing the facts about this agreement because they buy into ridiculous portrayals of environmentalists as weirdoes who live in trees and blow-up SUV's. I now realize that certain political personalities spend so much time creating a disingenuous negative image of environmentalists in order to discourage people from engaging in any type of honest debate. It's much easier for them to call the Sierra Club ugly names than it is to come up with any real negatives about this agreement. I trust that city council members will rise above that childish level of debate.
Springfield isn't a city that always embraces change easily. This is one case where CWLP and city leaders deserve credit for doing things in new, creative ways that will create jobs while making the city a cleaner, healthier place to live. I've loaded a copy of the agreement onto this blog so anyone with questions can view it in full detail.
There is a small group of vocal opponents to this plan so I hope those of you who take the time to look it over will call your Alderman to voice your support. A public meeting on the issue will happen in the Springfield Municipal Building City Council Chambers Wednesday, July 26 starting at 5pm.