Statehouse To Run On Wind (Not Hot Air)
Under a groundbreaking agreement between the Sierra Club and Springfield's municipal utility, City Water, Light, and Power, the state capitol complex will be entirely powered by wind energy. Governor Blagojevich made the commitment to buy wind energy from CWLP for all the Springfield buildings under the control of the executive branch.
Having the state capitol powered by wind energy is not only a big boost to renewable energy in Illinois, but also symbolic of great work being done in Illinois to promote safe, clean energy choices that help reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources.
The deal with CWLP also commits Springfield to acheiving the emissions reduction targets of the Kyoto treaty on global warming, which is believed to be a first for any utility in America. Also in the agreement are state-of-the-art pollution controls for a new coal plant CWLP is building, and new conservation and efficiency programs.
Good work by CWLP for thinking outside the box, and by Governor Blagojevich for using the state's purchasing power to promote clean power. The end result is a good deal for the ratepayers of Springfield, and a clean energy model that others around the nation can follow.
Details here.
Posted by
Jack Darin
3 comments:
Just a point of clarification. The capitol complex, including the state house in the picture above, are controlled and managed by the Secretary of State, not the Governor. I believe that neither the the Secretary of State nor any higher education facilities are obligated to participate in the renewable energy purchase.
What this leaves are state owned and leased spaces occupied by executive agencies (i.e. DOC, DHS, ISP, etc.).
Hi Jack,
By increasing the Megawatt Tower Capacities your estimates see a reduction in harmfull emissions equivalent to 103,000 cars through the elimination of the coal burning energy sources.
How many turbin towers will that require in Sangamon Valley? I did not understand the increase by total, but only by megawatt capacity from 60MGW to 120MDW.
It would be a great start.
Three cheers for the Governor, running not just his agency but that of the Secretary of State as well, and I guess while he's at it, the AG through the decisions about FOIA, the GA through funding stem cell research, the Treasurer via fund sweeps...
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