Evanston residents learned about new energy options that could help save the environment and their wallets at a Sustainable Evanston forum on Thursday night.
The forum, organized by Evanston’s Energy Future at the Lake Street Church, attracted about 100 residents and a handful of Northwestern students. Alternative energy sources and plans that would give residents and businesses economic incentives to cut down on their energy consumption were among the topics discussed.
“We are trying to develop strategies that increase the harmony between our needs and our environment,” said Stephen Perkins, chairman of Evanston’s Energy Future.
The United States is a glutton compared with other countries when it comes to energy use, Perkins said.
Evanston is one of six communities that have been selected for an Illinois Commerce Commission study on aggregate electricity purchasing. A preliminary analysis of Evanston shows the community could save close to $10 million on energy costs each year after deregulation, if residents act as an aggregate community instead of as individuals in managing their electricity purchases, said Anthony Star, assistant manager of the Community Energy Cooperative, a local group focused on identifying Evanston’s best energy options.
Though California’s energy woes have created a national stir, there are communities in which an aggregate energy system has proved successful, Star said.
In the proposed system, consumers would pay for energy on an hourly rate using prices set for each day. This would give consumers the power to save money by using less energy, especially on days that are likely to be high cost, such as the summer, Star said.
“Right now, no one is paying attention. If we act like this for a few years we could get into a California situation,” Star said.
NU can be a leader in pushing for new energy options said Derek Supple, co-chairman of Students for Environmental and Ecological Development and one of 12 organizers of the forum.
“Northwestern is the largest industry in Evanston, so they have a lot of power in negotiating with (Commonwealth Edison) and taking steps in the right direction,” said Supple, a McCormick senior.
A new contract will be signed between Evanston and ComEd by July, and residents at the forum expressed hope that the deal will lead to increased reliability and options for energy efficient retrofit projects.
Wind power was discussed as an environmentally friendly energy source. But plans for a possible wind generator in Evanston would require funding that is not yet available.
“It’s technology I think we ought to look into,” said Janet Otwell, an Evanston resident. “We are a real windy city.”
Similar meetings and action panels were planned for the future.
“This is just the beginning of letting people know what’s going on and what their energy options are,” said Bonnie Wilson, an Evanston resident attending the forum.
A Sustainable Evanston forum to discuss Evanston’s transportation future will be held February 27.
