Geneseo, Illinois is a small town with fewer than 7,000 people. They plan to meet about half their electricity needs, on a good day (windy, sunny) with clean energy, after the installation of some new cool technology.<\/p>\n
From the Dispatch Argus:<\/a> <\/p>\n City officials have been notified of a $1 million grant for a one-megawatt solar energy array from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation.<\/p>\n Total cost of the project is expected to be $2 to $2.5 million. Under the project, renewable energy would provide about half the city’s daily nine-megawatt appetite for power — enough for about 220 homes — between the one-megawatt solar system and the three megawatts from the city’s two wind turbines on an ideal day.<\/p>\n The council voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize Mayor Nadine Palmgren to sign an agreement with the foundation for the grant. Ald. Howard Beck, 3rd Ward, was absent.<\/p>\n Council approval also will be needed for funding, seeking bids and awarding the project, according to electric superintendent Lewis Opsal.<\/p>\n Geneseo’s solar array would be located on five acres now a soybean field at the foot of the city’s wind turbines, where it would connect to an existing substation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be great for reducing our transmission costs,\u201d said Mr. Opsal. \u201cThere is a long line of people very interested in that grant. It’s a perfect project for Geneseo.\u201d<\/p>\n Kathy Allen, of Geneseo, questioned if the project would lower power bills in the city. Mr. Opsal said, hopefully, the city would be able to hold costs steady. He noted a large utility recently raised rates 23 percent and U.S. power rates could double in the future because of the closure of high-emission plants.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Geneseo, Illinois is a small town with fewer than 7,000 people. They plan to meet about half their electricity needs, on a good day (windy, sunny) with clean energy, after the installation of some new cool technology. From the Dispatch Argus: City officials have been notified of a $1 million grant for a one-megawatt solar … Continue reading Small town getting a good way off the carbon-based grid<\/span>