Lombard to consider renewable energy during aggregation
As Lombard seeks bids for its electricity aggregation program, price and renewable energy both will be considered.
The village board on Thursday night approved the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative as a consultant to assist with the process of seeking bids and choosing an electricity supplier.
But trustees made a change to the wording of the resolution that allows them to choose the “best” supplier by factors other than just cost.
The village will be able to ask each electricity provider that replies to its call for bids “what percentage of the electricity would be renewable and where its exact sources will be coming from,” Village Manager David Hulseberg said.
Trustee Greg Gron said he wanted to make sure renewable sources weren’t excluded from the village’s consideration as it looks to choose an electricity supplier for residential and small commercial customers that don’t opt out of the aggregation program. Voters approved the program by referendum March 20, allowing the village to combine their buying power and seek discounts on their behalf.
Gron said some residents may be willing to pay a bit more to have their energy come from renewable sources.
Two such residents spoke Thursday night encouraging the village to at least determine prices for renewable energy before choosing a new supplier.
Lonnie Morris, who leads the River Prairie Group and the Cool Cities program of the Illinois Sierra Club, said renewable energy usually costs a bit more, but provides better value.
“Value would take into account some external costs that might not be referenced in the actual cost — the cost of public health, mercury, developmental delays that come from electricity produced by coal-burning plants,” Morris said.
Resident Emily Prasad also said the village should pursue the best value instead of the absolute lowest cost when choosing an electricity supplier on residents’ behalf.
Even if the village chooses an electricity supplier that does not use renewable sources, residents who want greener energy can opt out of the program, Tim Sexton, finance director, said. He directed interested residents to a website called pluginillinois.org that lists all the licensed electricity suppliers, their prices and whether they provide renewable energy.
As Lombard continues the electricity aggregation process, two public hearings will be held during village board meetings at 7:30 p.m. April 19 and May 3 in village hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave.
The village board will use input from those meetings to develop a plan of governance for the aggregation process, then approve the plan, seek bids and choose a supplier.