Chicago Clean Power Coalition Backs Community Energy Choice,
Calls on Mayor Emanuel to Use November Vote to Advance Clean, Renewable Energy
CHICAGO – More than 100 Chicagoans representing the city’s Clean Power Coalition rallied at City Hall today to support a November vote on Community Energy Choice and to call on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to use energy choice as a driver for jobs and clean, renewable energy.
“Chicago can be the first city in the nation to use community energy choice to invest in local renewable energy,” said Rafael Hurtado, an organizer with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization. “This vote can place Chicago on the path to be America’s greenest city.”
The Clean Power Coalition, which used its grassroots power to push for the closing of the city’s last two coal plants earlier this year, has shifted its attention to powering Chicago on clean, renewable energy like wind and solar. The rally was used to deliver almost 2,500 petition signatures asking Mayor Emanuel to commit to developing in-state renewable energy sources with the purchase of clean, renewable energy made in Illinois and establishing a goal of using renewable energy to run the city.
“With a plan in place that includes the purchase of renewable energy produced locally, and an energy efficiency program for the whole city, community energy choice will drive job creation across Chicago,” said Tom Conway, Regional Program Manager, with the BlueGreen Alliance.
Chicago has long had leadership that understands that the green economy is a key to prosperity, and Community Energy Choice is another step towards making Chicago America’s greenest city.
“Smart policies not only lead to good jobs, they lead to a more sustainable, thriving economy. The city has the opportunity to use Community Energy Choice to make Chicago a center of clean renewable energy and a model for the nation,” said Lisa Albrecht, Renewable Energy Specialist with Solar Service.
On November 6th, Chicagoans will vote on a referendum to determine whether the City should have the authority to buy electricity on behalf of its residents. Before signing any contract, the City of Chicago will hold public meetings to discuss the best options and solicit rates from different energy suppliers. No matter what, ComEd will still deliver our power and respond to outages, meaning our power will remain reliable and safe. Additionally, residents can opt out of the process.