ROCHELLE — A community meeting on the Rochelle Energy Action Plan was held Thursday as the city prepares for changes in power generation under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which requires coal fired power plants to close or cut emissions by 2045. The event, hosted by the University of Illinois Office of the Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation and led by the University of Illinois EnergySense Resilience Center, took place at the Rochelle Rec Center and focused on energy efficiency programs and assistance available to residents.
Shawn Maurer, technical director of EnergySense, says energy efficiency can play a major role in reducing demand.
“Energy efficiency is a really big component for many communities of reducing their energy demand and helping to reduce the need for additional generation. Most buildings can save anywhere between 10 and 30% with really simple, low cost things like weatherization, air sealing, things like that. So the big thing for people to take away is that they can do some really simple things that can help the community at large, because little things add up when it’s a lot of people doing it,” Shawn Maurer, technical director of EnergySense, said.
RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver says the meeting brought multiple agencies together.
“It’s nice to collaborate with all the other folks around the county that also can offer these programs too. So not only Rochelle Municipal Utilities, but Nicor Gas and Tri-Counties Opportunity Council, to help get everybody in the same room and show all of these different programs that are available for any resident to take advantage of. Between our incentives and Corp’s incentives and some of the assistance that Tri-Counties can provide, I think it’s a great thing to have us all in one spot, as well as talk about the future for the utility,” RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said.
The meeting was geared toward residents, especially those seeking help with utility bills, and included information on weatherization programs and other energy saving resources.
