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Actions & Information
Information 2019
January 2019: As one of his first acts, new elected Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzger signed an order which committed Illinois to the US Climate Alliance signing an Executive Order to get the state to 100% renewable energy by 2050! Doing this he joined governors of 17 other states who made that pledge.
Solar Farms In Space
As the green energy revolution accelerates, solar farms have become a familiar sight across the nation and around the world. But China is taking solar power to a whole new level. The nation has announced plans to put a solar power station in orbit by 2050, a feat that would make it the first nation to harness the sun’s energy in space and beam it to Earth.
Since the sun always shines in space, space-based solar power is seen as a uniquely reliable source of renewable energy.
“You don’t have to deal with the day and night cycle, and you don’t have to deal with clouds or seasons, so you end up having eight to nine times more power available to you,” said Ali Hajimiri, a professor of electrical engineering at the California Institute of Technology and director of the university’s Space Solar Power Project.
Of course, developing the hardware needed to capture and transmit the solar power, and launching the system into space, will be difficult and costly. But China is moving forward: The nation is building a test facility in the southwestern city of Chongqing to determine the best way to transmit solar power from orbit to the ground, the China Daily reported.
Actions 2017
Solar Community Loan from Overhead Project approved for Edgewater Historic Society: Implementation completed
Illinois Legislation: Future Energy Jobs Bill: Effective January 1, 2017
New jobs will be created, private investment in clean energy is anticipated and it is expected that savings to consumers because of energy efficiency programs will result. Here are the bill’s specifics
Renewable Energy Portfolio
The Future Energy Jobs Bill includes a meaningful fix to the state’s existing Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) law by fixing flaws in the policy, thus ensuring stable and predictable funding for renewable development. More than $200 million per year of the money we spend on electricity will now be spent on building new solar and wind facilities in Illinois. The bill requires a minimum of 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new solar power and 1,300 megawatts (MW) of new wind power to be built in the state by 2025.
Solar development
The bill also creates the state’s first community solar program, which allows those not able to build solar on their roof the opportunity to subscribe to a shared project in their community. The bill also creates the Illinois Solar for All program, a comprehensive low-income solar deployment and job training program that will open up access to the solar economy for millions of low-income families.
Net metering is preserved in the final bill. Net metering allows customers with solar to feed electricity they do not use back to the grid to offset the cost of their electric bills. Net metering will continue in Illinois until deployment hits five percent of the load of the grid. After that, rooftop solar owners will get an up-front value of solar rebate to account for their geographic, time, and performance-based values to the grid.
Increased energy efficiency
The bill requires ComEd to achieve a 21.5% reduction and Ameren to achieve a 16% reduction in energy use by 2030, with a large focus on deep, long-lasting savings. The bill also requires $25 million per year to be spent on programs to help low-income homes become more efficient. Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, create jobs, and lower electric bills for consumers.
Nuclear Subsidy
The bill creates a Zero Emission Standard (ZES) to subsidize two of Exelon’s nuclear plants (Clinton and Quad Cities) in Illinois. There is a cap on the total number of credits to provide, and a cap on the total program cost of $235 million per year.
This subsidy is based on the economic value of the avoided carbon emissions from these facilities using the federal social cost of carbon, which represents the avoided economic damages from climate change. This program will last for 10 years, and in return Exelon will keep the two plants open. The ZES ensures that any financial assistance to existing nuclear power plants will not dilute or otherwise come at the expense of the incentives for energy efficiency, grid modernization, or renewable resources.
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Renewable Energy Initiatives
Renewable Energy Technology: Definitions
Solar Photovoltaic
GeoThermal
January 2019: As one of his first acts, new elected Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzger signed an order which committed Illinois to the US Climate Alliance signing an Executive Order to get the state to 100% renewable energy by 2050! Doing this he joined governors of 17 other states who made that pledge.
Solar Farms In Space
As the green energy revolution accelerates, solar farms have become a familiar sight across the nation and around the world. But China is taking solar power to a whole new level. The nation has announced plans to put a solar power station in orbit by 2050, a feat that would make it the first nation to harness the sun’s energy in space and beam it to Earth.
Since the sun always shines in space, space-based solar power is seen as a uniquely reliable source of renewable energy.
“You don’t have to deal with the day and night cycle, and you don’t have to deal with clouds or seasons, so you end up having eight to nine times more power available to you,” said Ali Hajimiri, a professor of electrical engineering at the California Institute of Technology and director of the university’s Space Solar Power Project.
Of course, developing the hardware needed to capture and transmit the solar power, and launching the system into space, will be difficult and costly. But China is moving forward: The nation is building a test facility in the southwestern city of Chongqing to determine the best way to transmit solar power from orbit to the ground, the China Daily reported.
Actions 2017
Solar Community Loan from Overhead Project approved for Edgewater Historic Society: Implementation completed
Illinois Legislation: Future Energy Jobs Bill: Effective January 1, 2017
New jobs will be created, private investment in clean energy is anticipated and it is expected that savings to consumers because of energy efficiency programs will result. Here are the bill’s specifics
Renewable Energy Portfolio
The Future Energy Jobs Bill includes a meaningful fix to the state’s existing Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) law by fixing flaws in the policy, thus ensuring stable and predictable funding for renewable development. More than $200 million per year of the money we spend on electricity will now be spent on building new solar and wind facilities in Illinois. The bill requires a minimum of 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new solar power and 1,300 megawatts (MW) of new wind power to be built in the state by 2025.
Solar development
The bill also creates the state’s first community solar program, which allows those not able to build solar on their roof the opportunity to subscribe to a shared project in their community. The bill also creates the Illinois Solar for All program, a comprehensive low-income solar deployment and job training program that will open up access to the solar economy for millions of low-income families.
Net metering is preserved in the final bill. Net metering allows customers with solar to feed electricity they do not use back to the grid to offset the cost of their electric bills. Net metering will continue in Illinois until deployment hits five percent of the load of the grid. After that, rooftop solar owners will get an up-front value of solar rebate to account for their geographic, time, and performance-based values to the grid.
Increased energy efficiency
The bill requires ComEd to achieve a 21.5% reduction and Ameren to achieve a 16% reduction in energy use by 2030, with a large focus on deep, long-lasting savings. The bill also requires $25 million per year to be spent on programs to help low-income homes become more efficient. Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, create jobs, and lower electric bills for consumers.
Nuclear Subsidy
The bill creates a Zero Emission Standard (ZES) to subsidize two of Exelon’s nuclear plants (Clinton and Quad Cities) in Illinois. There is a cap on the total number of credits to provide, and a cap on the total program cost of $235 million per year.
This subsidy is based on the economic value of the avoided carbon emissions from these facilities using the federal social cost of carbon, which represents the avoided economic damages from climate change. This program will last for 10 years, and in return Exelon will keep the two plants open. The ZES ensures that any financial assistance to existing nuclear power plants will not dilute or otherwise come at the expense of the incentives for energy efficiency, grid modernization, or renewable resources.
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Renewable Energy Initiatives
- Overhead Project LLC Non Profit (2017) Set up to provide a revolving no interest loan for solar installations. Initially working with local Edgewater/Andersonville non profits. Will expand portfolio as time goes on. Loans will be provided to set up solar arrays. Pay back will be from the savings received due to solar power offsetting normal electric usage.
- Solar Chicago In August, 2014 EESP hosted an Edgewater presentation St. Gertrude's Church Hall. Background: The City of Chicago, in partnership with World Wildlife Fund, launched the Solar Chicago Program with the goal of reducing the cost of residential solar electric systems and increasing their adoption among homeowners throughout the Chicago metro area. Solar Chicago relied on two key components and it was an opportunity of limited duration:
- Google Map Maintain data base of renewable energy installations and google map development. Map may be used for site tours. http://goo.gl/maps/NEHR6
- Green Business EESP continues work with chambers, businesses and local universities to expand Green Business practices that include Renewable Energy.
- Uncommon Ground Solar Thermal; Solar Electric Car Charging Station
- Edgewater Library: Solar PV; GeoThermal
- Loyola University: Solar Thermal, Solar PV; GeoThermal
- Pomeroy Building: Solar PV/Thermal; GeoThermal
- Senn High School; Solar PV
- Firehouse 6200 Clark; Solar PV
- Videography Studio on Ravenswood: Solar PV
- Heartland Medical Center at 1301 W. Devon Platinum LEED level with Geothermal wells installed
Renewable Energy Technology: Definitions
Solar Photovoltaic
- Solar power is the common term for this technology.
- Photovoltaic is commonly referred to as "PV".
- PV cells or solar power panels are used to collect energy from the sun.
- PV panels consist of semi-conductor cells which convert the sun's energy into electrical energy.
- Solar thermal panels collect the energy from the sun as heat, usually in water.
- The major applications are heating water for domestic use, and for space heating of buildings.
GeoThermal
- Wells are driven into the ground and the naturally heated underground water is circulated back to the building for heating and air conditioning purposes. The costs of the well, pipes and heat pumps are a factor for single homeonwers, large buildings or groups of buildings may spread the costs of future geothermal projects
- The wind energy available offshore on Lake Michigan is among the highest in the nation. Utility scale wind turbines placed 8 miles or so offshore will be away from bird migration routes and may be the most cost-effective form of renewable energy in the region. The Lakefront Protection Ordinance needs to be modernized and the public given verifiable information to gain support.
Electric Car Charging Stations
- The list of current charging stations in Edgewater:
- Jewel Parking Lot: Broadway/Bryn Mawr Two Free Electric Charging Stations
- Uncommon Ground 1400 W. Devon Ave Chicago, IL 60660 Electric Charging Type: Level 2 Solar
- Walgreens – ChargePoint 5625 N. Ridge Ave. Chicago, IL 60660 Phone: 855 350 4733 Electric Charging Type: Level 2
- Walgreens –DC Fast 5625 N. Ridge Ave. Chicago, IL 60660 Phone: 855 350 4733 Electric Charging Type: DC Fast
- Andersonville Apartments 5450 N. Clark St. Chicago, Il 60640 Phone: 888 759 4389 Electric Charging Type: Level 2
- Walgreens 5440 N. Clark Chicago, IL 60640 Phone 888 758 4389 Electric Charging Type: Level 2
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The Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project (EESP) is an all volunteer group - and a partner of the Overhead Project, a 501(c)3 non profit group.(EIN 46-4457047). Donations to EESP are tax deductible under IRS rules.*
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