Oak Park's search for alternate energy provider takes next step

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 10:00 PM

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By Marty Stempniak

Staff Reporter

The Village of Oak Park's quest to locate an alternative energy provider for its residents and small businesses just took its next step.

Oak Park recently held a couple of meetings to gather what residents want to see from their new energy company. Should the village just go for cheap, or does it also want to offer green options that come from wind and solar power?

Village Manager Tom Barwin says Oak Park hopes to work with its new energy provider to offer a range of power options, from green to "deep green," depending on how much renewable energy is used. A rough draft of the village's energy plan, along with a survey, are both posted at www.oak-park.us/aggregation.

Oak Park plans to host public hearings on July 18 and Aug. 1, both at 7:30 p.m. at village hall, to give residents a chance to comment further on the plan. After that, village hall plans to ask companies to make bids to offer an alternative to Exelon, while the power would continue being administered by ComEd.

Residents can "opt out" of the plan if they like, and the village has the option to reject the bids if it finds them unfavorable.

Oak Park voters first got the ball rolling in April, when they resoundingly approved a ballot measure, asking whether the village should pursue an alternative power company. About 20 other communities in Illinois have approved similar referendums. The city of Fulton was the first community in the state to sign a contract with a provider.