Springfield clean energy agreement in the spotlight
Springfield is getting more national attention for the clean energy plan worked out between the Sierra Club and City Water Light & Power. The Environment Report is picked up by NPR stations across the country.
The five minute segment includes interviews with CWLP Chief Engineer Jay Bartlett, Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott, and myself. You can listen to the story here. Doug Scott talks about Springfield's role as a model for other towns and utilities.
The reporter said this is part of a series so he may include other parts of the interviews in future reports. Its a good story, but I don't think it mentioned funding for new energy conservation and efficiency programs, which is an important part of CWLP further reducing its emissions. That's the part of the plan that calls for more public involvement by Springfield customers.
Comments
As someone who just moved to Springfield....this report was very cool. I didn't realize that coal could be made environmentally friendly. Is there any wind plants here in Illinois or is Iowa the closest?
Posted by: Benct15 | January 22, 2008 7:19 PM
I'm glad you liked it!
I wouldn't necessarily call the coal plant itself clean, but when you add up everything CWLP did (including shutting down an older plant, improving pollution controls on an existing one, buying wind power, making the new plant as clean as a coal-fire plant can get, and the energy efficiency programs) it all adds up to a significant reduction in emissions levels.
There are several wind farms in Illinois. The closest is near Bloomington. I was hoping the wind would come from an Illinois farm but it sounds like they got the best deal from the company that owns the one in Iowa.
Posted by: Will | January 23, 2008 1:59 AM