Going Green

Go Green Wilmette at Summerfest

The nonprofit braved the thunderstorms to share information on how to save money on electricity while saving the environment.

When Go Green Wilmette requested a booth at Wilmette’s Summerfest on July 13 and 14 they didn’t expect the excitement that took place. The booth’s theme was Renewable Electricity with “green” electricity attractions that included a windmill, solar panels and a bike that produced electricity when ridden. Electricity was also produced by two thunderstorms that made manning the booth especially challenging, but Go Green Wilmette volunteers weren’t about to harness that. Instead, they hunkered down and waited it out. “The rain’s no problem as long as we’re here for something good,” said Greg Vasilion, who was caught in the storms on both afternoons. This year’s event drew more visitors than any previous year and at least 100 visitors stopped …

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Going Green

Go Green Wilmette Educates Residents on 100 Renewable Energy

Volunteers say residents would still save more than $400 if they choose Wilmette's individual choice electrical aggregation program.

On Saturday, June 30, the Go Green Wilmette Booth at the Wilmette Farmer’s Market was busily handing out reusable produce bags to Wilmette residents who stopped by.  Inside the bags there was information about how to opt up to Wilmette's 100 percent Green Power Program. Many of the Wilmette residents who stopped by knew little or nothing about Wilmette's electrical aggregation, which should save most households around $450 the first year. And most had no idea about the "individual choice green power" option, which allows them to offset their household electricity use for the year. Residents were most appreciative of the information provided. Many people were very confused by the letter that they received in the mail last week (on the …

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Kenilworth Expects to Save $500,000 in Energy Costs

Kenilworth trustees approved purchasing 100 percent renewable energy as part of the village's electricity aggregation program.

Kenilworth finalized its electricity purchasing agreement with energy provider mc2 this week, according to a press release.  Residents and small businesses taking part in the electricity aggregation program will pay 4.11 cents per kilowatt-hour for 100 percent renewable energy. The rate is 45 percent lower than the Commonwealth Edison’s summer rate Kenilworth residents pay as of June 20, according to the village.  The village estimates the average Kenilworth residential customer will save some $600 from September through May 2013. With about 875 residential and small business customers eligible to receive electricity under this agreement, Kenilworth expects to save more than $500,000 in energy costs during that time period.  "The Village …

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Poll: Would You Opt to Buy 100% Renewable Energy?

Wilmette residents can choose the lowest price option or choose to purchase renewable energy through the Individual Choice Green Power Program.

The villages of Wilmette and Kenilworth recently locked in the lowest energy rate among North Shore communities for its residents and small businesses that participate in the electricity aggregation program. The villages, which joined forces to form the Lake Shore Power Alliance, have selected mc2 to supply electricity for the aggregation program. For Wilmette residents, the primary program will offer the lowest price option, at 4.035 cents per kilowatt-hour, which includes the statuary minimum of 7 percent renewable energy. Residents also have the option of purchasing 100 percent renewable energy at 4.11 cents per kilowatt-hour, or about $10 more per year than the primary program.   A Patch reader was not pleased with the village's …

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Wilmette, Kenilworth Locks in Electricity Supply Rates

Within eight months, residents who participate in the electricity aggregation program could expect to save some $450 and the village as a whole could expect to save more than $4 million in energy costs.

Wilmette and Kenilworth have locked in the lowest energy rate among North Shore communities for its residents and small businesses that participate in the electricity aggregation program.  The Village of Wilmette, which is part of the Lake Shore Power Alliance with the Village of Kenilworth, finalized the electricity purchasing agreement with energy provider mc2 Thursday.  The new rate for Wilmette residents will be 4.035 cents per kilowatt-hour, and 4.11 cents per kilowatt-hour for Kenilworth residents, both prices are locked in through May 31, 2013. The new rate is 46 percent lower than Commonwealth Edison’s summer rate and 54 percent lower than ComEd’s non-summer rate, according to a press release.  Kenilworth trustees approved …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Village Rejects 100% Green Energy Option

Wilmette resident Jan Barshis shares her view on the village's electrical aggregation vote.

On Tuesday, June 12, at the Wilmette Village Board meeting, 5 of the 7 Village trustees voted down the proposal to commit the Village to 100% green energy through the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) in its electrical aggregation decision. The Board selected MC2 as Wilmette’s energy provider and opted for the minimum state requirement , (7% renewable energy), with individuals being able to choose 50% or 100% renewable energy through REC’s for a slight extra cost. Unfortunately, rarely more than 3% of the population takes advantage of this individual choice plan, according to Mark Pruitt, the Village aggregation consultant. Despite more than 850 signatures and emails sent to the Village asking for the larger percentages of …

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Wilmette Selects Supplier for its Electricity Aggregation Program

Village expects to switch over to new electricity supplier mc2 in August.

Wilmette trustees approved a three-year contract with mc2 to supply electricity for the village’s Power Purchasing Program Tuesday.  The Chicago-based energy supplier will provide residents the lowest price option, which includes the statuary minimum of 7 percent renewable energy, while also offering residents the option of purchasing 100 percent renewable energy credits.  “We are optimistic that we could put residents in the position of being able to save somewhere between $340 and $400 (between now and May 2013),” Village Manager Tim Frenzer said during the meeting. “If you think about multiplying that to just over 10,000 households you are talking between $3 to $4 million wealth saved for the community.”  Residents who want to choose …

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Going Green

Go Green Wilmette Spearheads Campaign

Go Green Wilmette staffed a table at the Wilmette Farmer's Market to educate fellow residents about the hidden costs of buying electricity for the Village

On Saturday, May 5, Go Green Wilmette (GGW) joined with organizations around the world in an International Day of Climate Action, organized by 350.org, an international environmental organization headed by author Bill McKibben and was called “connect the Dots to Climate Change.” GGW members staffed a table at the local French Market to educate Wilmette residents about the hidden costs of using coal-fired power plants as the source for their electricity and to secure their endorsement for sourcing renewable energy instead.  The Wilmette Village government has recently committed to finding a single supplier for the Wilmette/Kenilworth upcoming electrical aggregation. GGW is working with other community groups to encourage Village leaders to …

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Chime In: Wilmette Power Aggregation, Cheapest Option or More Renewable Energy?

For Wilmette’s electrical power aggregation plan, some residents want the village to select the cheapest option, while others want the plan to include a higher percentage of electricity from renewable sources.

The Village of Wilmette held the first of two public hearings on its electrical aggregation program Tuesday. On March 20, Wilmette and Kenilworth voters authorized the villages to seek cheaper electricity supply for residential and commercial retail customers who have not opted out of the program. For the full story, read Wilmette Residents Mixed on Cost and Sustainability. Patch reader Frederick Keady wrote: "Sustainability is just a pretext to take consumers' money and freedom." Willie Wilmette wrote on Patch: "Would you not agree that it would be OK if we let the consumers choose from the 2 options?" Go Green Wilmette, a local nonprofit that supports creating a sustainable environment, has been urging the village to choose electricity …

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Wilmette Residents Mixed on Cost and Sustainability

For Wilmette’s electrical power aggregation plan, some residents want the village to select the cheapest option, while others want the plan to include a higher percentage of electricity from renewable sources.

The Village of Wilmette held the first of two public hearings on its electrical aggregation program Tuesday. On March 20, Wilmette and Kenilworth voters authorized the villages to seek cheaper electricity supply for residential and commercial retail customers who have not opted out of the program. Several residents addressed the Village Board regarding Wilmette Power Purchasing Program’s plan of governance. The plan currently recommends seeking bids from suppliers for various contract periods, different levels of renewable energy sources and not charging participants for opting in or out. The contract would be awarded after Commonwealth Edison announced its electricity rates, typically in June, so the village would have all pricing …

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