PHOTO BY MARIA ANSLEY
A gaggle of citizen activists have fashioned a coalition known as Springfield’s Utility Future to press for renewable power, transparency and sustainability from Metropolis Water, Mild and Energy, the biggest municipally owned utility in Illinois. Members consists of, from left to proper, Blake Andov of Illinois Environmental Council, Aiden Meyer of Religion in Place, Ariel Hampton of Illinois Environmental Council, Anne Logue of Sustainable Springfield, Don Hanrahan of Sierra Membership of Sangamon Valley and Lori McKiernan of Sierra Membership of Sangamon Valley.
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ALREADY PUBLIC
The Oct. 17 cowl story is titled “Residents need a voice in CWLP.” Oddly, CWLP already occurs to be publicly owned. Bear in mind this when progressives let you know privatization of public utilities is undemocratic.
Steve Griffin
Sherman
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NOT ENTITLED
Voters and taxpayers, by way of their elected leaders, determine what’s essential. Activists, often known as loud snivelers with little or no pores and skin within the recreation, can “use their voice” wherever they need. It does not entitle them to something they don’t seem to be keen to pay for.
John Kelly
By way of Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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ALREADY HAVE REPRESENTATION
The residents of Springfield do have a voice in the whole lot that the town does, by way of the aldermen that they elect. Why do these six folks suppose they need to be granted particular entry to at least one specific space they really feel strongly about? What about all of the folks that really feel strongly about police or hearth or ambulance companies, or how the cash from the playing machines from the No.1-earning metropolis in Illinois is spent?
If we allow them to have entry to this, the place does it cease? What are we purported to do, ask each citizen individually each time a choice must be made? That is why now we have the system of presidency in place that now we have. If they do not prefer it, then run for alderman.
Shenan Gilleland
Springfield
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NARROW-MINDED
Two years in the past, our Coalition for Springfield’s Utility Future started reaching out to CWLP to take part in our packages to open up a course towards substantive clear power initiatives. We did have shows that included them. We have been hopeful. Nevertheless, Doug Brown’s latest statements dismissing a pursuit of utility-scale renewable power investigation and continued help of fossil gas use additional confirms that we’d like exterior experience on Springfield’s power future.
CWLP’s attachment to fossil fuels as our primary power provide, within the face of a quickly altering local weather, is trigger for excellent concern. Holding this attitude is why Springfield’s power planning and growth has been, and continues to be, manner behind different cities. It smacks of complacency and narrow-minded considering, as many cities all through the world are actively carving out pathways away from fossil gas dependency. This mind-set severely limits how CWLP approaches (if in any respect) ground-breaking developments and pilot packages that supply dependable, inexpensive, clear power options.
Anne Logue
Springfield
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TRENDSETTERS
Good factor we’re a part of the most recent pattern in coal recapturing expertise, setting the pattern for the remainder of the nation at this level. Thank your native union plumbers for main the best way in instrumentation.
Kirk Donely
By way of Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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BE CONSTRUCTIVE
It is disappointing to see such emotionally charged misinformation within the on-line feedback on this text. Environmental activists are advocating for a sustainable future that advantages everybody.
Europe’s power challenges are complicated and influenced by geopolitical points, not merely renewable power insurance policies. The truth is, many European nations are investing closely in wind and solar energy to boost power safety and scale back reliance on fossil fuels.
Dismissing these efforts with divisive rhetoric does not contribute to significant options. Let’s deal with constructive dialogue and factual info to deal with the actual challenges all of us face.
Phil Grey
By way of Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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FORMER MAYOR HELPED
Thanks for overlaying the group of involved residents knocking on the doorways of metropolis corridor to get CWLP to behave responsibly. The one factor lacking that I wish to add to the reported historical past is the position former Mayor Jim Langfelder performed throughout that time frame.
He introduced collectively in his workplace involved residents and CWLP’s high administration many instances to assist dealer what led to the adoption of that formal public planning course of (IRP) and its suggestions, forcing our utility and metropolis council to do what it could not do by itself.
As famous within the article, challenges are solely getting harder, and options require lengthy lead instances. It is time for Mayor Misty Buscher to make use of her management expertise by getting events collectively to hammer out an strategy that meets our metropolis’s future power wants.
Or perhaps the previous mayor could possibly be appointed as chair of a sustainability fee to information Springfield by way of one other utility thicket?
John E. Williams
Springfield
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NEED HEALTHIER OPTIONS
I want to encourage Springfield Energy to the Individuals on their efforts to form CWLP’s future power insurance policies into extra sustainable means. I’d additionally level out that the proposed “resolution” appears as impalpable as the issue.
I applaud Dr. Brandon Derman’s request to native power coverage leaders to “plan for a simply and speedy clear power transition.” Moreover, I want to encourage them to have the foresight to incorporate the potential public well being penalties of ongoing reliance on fossil fuels, significantly on the counties’ susceptible populations.
Sangamon County has particular well being considerations linked to fossil gas emissions. In only one instance, the latest Sangamon County Neighborhood Well being Wants Evaluation prioritized emergency room utilization for bronchial asthma and heart problems, significantly in Black populations, as an space of concern. Details like this needs to be thought-about in a future Built-in Useful resource Plan.
As an answer to the identical drawback, Louisville, Kentucky, lately transformed {an electrical} energy plant from coal and located a profound and sustained lower in pediatric acute bronchial asthma circumstances (the sort that require emergency room utilization). In Illinois, pure gasoline has lately been discovered to have extra destructive well being penalties in comparison with all different fossil fuels mixed. Pure gasoline accommodates very small particles which were linked to many well being issues akin to bronchial asthma assaults and hospital visits.
It’s noteworthy {that a} rising variety of forward-thinking people akin to Dr. Derman are looking for more healthy choices to each coal and pure gasoline with cheaper Clear Power Portfolios, a mix of wind, photo voltaic, energy-efficiency, demand response and battery power storage. I discover it encouraging that there are members of our group who’ve the imaginative and prescient to understand that Springfield has the potential to grow to be exemplary in transitioning to scrub power. Our state has chosen to take the lead on local weather justice and fairness, so the potential is right here for Springfield to comply with by contemplating more healthy options to fossil fuels.
Kevin Atchason
Springfield
