Congratulations customers of Naperville's electric utility. You've helped make the city's alternative-energy program one of the top 10 in the nation! By voluntarily forking over an extra $5 to $15 a month, you've helped Naperville achieve a participation rate of about 7 percent, when the national norm in places that offer such programs is about 2 percent.
Naperville's green-energy program primarily uses wind power to augment the more traditional forms that generate power, which, in Illinois means burning coal, mainly.
Our discussion on this topic is twofold: First, we want to know if you participate in Naperville's green-energy program. If so, why do you freely pay extra, and if you don't participate, why not?
Second, what do you think about the future of the nation's energy programs? How do you feel about nuclear power? How important is it to you to try to be carbon neutral in your energy consumption?
No way I will ever voluntarily pay for "Alternative Energy". I think it is incredibly stupid and preys upon dumb people.
Ben --
The Naperville Renewable Energy Program supports the development of renewable energy here in Illinois. Currently it costs more for renweable energy to be produced, since we are building a new energy infastructure. By joining the program you are ensuring that these projects have the funds needed. The great thing is that we will have a secure clean energy future.
Ben --
The Naperville Renewable Energy Program supports the development of renewable energy here in Illinois. Currently it costs more for renweable energy to be produced, since we are builing a new energy infastructure. By joining the program you are ensuring that these projects have the funds needed. The great thing is that we will have a secure clean energy future.
I was never supplied the adequate information for this project it was more a flier that said check the box if you want to pay more. My thought is if you want me to pay more you have to provide the reasoning why...?
I read the other day that 75,000 large wind generators will be required to replace coal nationally for electric generation. I understand that T-Boon's plan is to use wind to replace electricity generations using natural gas; and power the cars with natural gas instead eliminating the need for gasoline.
Current manufacturing capacity is 500 units a year, with more factories being built, one by Siemens in Elgin.
Coal burn can be controlled, wind blowing can not, so predictability is still an issue.
Delaware just approved an offshore, 12 miles, wind farm. Maryland is set to follow so is SC. A UK company that is a leader in Europe.
For predictable energy, delivered in the vast amounts required to power our economy, is there any other answer other than Nuclear, I can't think of it. Zero carbon emissions.
Wind is a piece of the solution, but not the solution. Solar panels are getting better, but not the solution either, just a part of it.
As the Business Manager at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish in Naperville, I signed up for 10% of our church's electricity sourced by wind power because stewardship of the earth is part of our responsibility as humans who have been blessed by our Creator with the gift of life and "dominion" over the earth. We are charged to care for the earth, to respect it and preserve it for the future generations, so ours is a Christian response to that responsibility.
During summer months our electic bill for the church buildings is about $4,500 per month, so while we pay the extra for wind-generation of a portion of our electricity, we are also always seeking ways to reduce our consumption without making our parish members uncomfortable in the heat nor afraid of the dark.
I'm hoping other churches, synagogues and temples will do likewise.
I've been signed up for the renewable energy option for almost 3 yrs now. The extra $5 a month I contribute covers about 300kw of energy. Which is just about the amount of energy I use per month (in the summer it's a bit more with A/C running) and I don't even notice the cost.
I think it's great Naperville offers such a great service and I encourage everyone I know to sign up all the time.
Analytical Reader:
Excellent catch, thank you. We do have a proliferation of safely operated nuclear power plants here in Illinois. We also have an abundance of coal. Thanks for the link.
You might want to check your facts on which energy sources Illinois uses for power. It seems that here, in Illinois, we get more power from nuclear than any other source.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/illinois.pdf