Geneva investing $15,000 to check into wind power
How much do Genevans value going "green" when they plug in a toaster?
The Geneva city council decided Monday night that it's worth spending $15,000 to find out what it could cost to buy into a wind-energy electrical generation project.
In a committee of the whole meeting, it voted 7-1 to sign a letter of intent to join the Eagle View wind energy project proposed by the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency.
NIMPA proposes to install two wind turbines near Rochelle, south of Route 64 and west of Route 251. Geneva belongs to NIMPA, as do the cities of Rochelle and Batavia. All three cities supply electricity to their residents and businesses, and the agency enables it to get better prices, in bulk, for the electricity they buy.
The power generated by the turbines would flow to Rochelle's electrical utility, reducing the amount that city draws off the national grid. The electricity would not flow directly to Geneva.
Aldermen struggled with the decision, as they heard that if the city decides to join the project, it will cost customers money, not save money.
It could cost $2.06 per kilowatt hour, monthly, for 15 years, until the bonds sold to pay for the project are retired. The sale of the energy to Rochelle, and the sale of renewable energy credits, would offset up to $1 of that cost.
"There are a lot of variables, and I am trying to find the benefit, other than the environmental," said Alderman Craig Maladra.
"If you go on economics, wind is not economical," said Michael Buffington, Geneva's electrical superintendent. "It is for the environment, and what value do you put on that." It could cost Geneva more than $5 million for just one turbine. However, Buffington said there is the possibility of picking one up for nearly half the cost, from a Canadian project that has stalled.
The $15,000 will allow NIMPA to continue pursuing the project, including getting firmer numbers for the cost of the turbines. In January or February, those costs will be brought back to the city council, which would then have to vote whether to sign a sales agreement, at a cost of $250,000.
"We're talking $15,000 at this price to stay in the game," implored Alderman Charles Brown, arguing that proposed legislation in Congress will drive up the cost of carbon-based electrical generation, such as the coal- and methane-gas fueled plants that currently generate electricity Geneva buys. "I think it is a good bet that in 15 years this will be a very, very good investment."
Alderman Robert Piper voted against the motion. Aldermen Dawn Vogelsberg and Ray Pawlak were absent.