The Illinois Municipal Energy Agency (IMEA) has requested a contract extension from the Naperville City Council regarding their energy sources. Extending this would mean that the City of Naperville would rely on energy from the Prairie State Generating Company until 2050, rather than 2035.
Opposition
Dr. Paul Bloom, who has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California Davis, opposes the IMEA request for a contract extension until 2050. Naperville’s Environmental and Sustainability Task Force (NEST) supports this sentiment. NCC’s environmental-based student organization, Green Scene created a petition.
“We are not asking for the contract to be voided, it can still run to 2035, we are just asking for the city to look carefully at the issue and not rush to make a decision,” said Bloom.
This is a drastic shift from the 2011 negotiation, and Bloom believes a universal shift towards clean energy is an influence. In 2021, two Illinois nuclear plants shut down citing “poorly conceived energy policies”.
History of the IMEA
The IMEA is a not-for-profit unit of local government created in 1984 comprising 32 municipal electric systems from all across Illinois. Notable districts include Naperville, St. Charles and Winnetka.
According to the IMEA site, “IMEA is one of nine Midwestern-based public power entities with a partial ownership interest in the Prairie State Generating Company.” Additionally, the IMEA maintains a fractional ownership of Prairie State and Trimble County.
The Tribune also covered this story last year. In 2007, the IMEA persuaded Naperville to join as the largest member. Naperville also had a huge hand in constructing the Prairie State coal plant.
“They’re the company that Naperville contracted to get our energy from, they get their energy from coal, they’re not focused on sustainability initiatives, as much as we would want them to, so that’s why Naperville City Council should say no, and we have to look for more sustainable energy sources,” said Libby Gardner, ‘25, President of Green Scene.
What’s the debate
Oil and gas enterprises fund certain politicians, which can influence their decisions. In 2024, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth received $1,020 in funds. Meanwhile, Darin LaHood of the 16th Congressional District took $71,500 in campaign contributions.
Talking with Bloom, he discussed campaign funding and the ramifications of gas emissions in Naperville.
“Burning coal for electricity doesn’t just release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The Trimble County and Prairie State power facilities are major sources of air and water pollution that affect us all. These facilities are the primary suppliers of energy to IMEA and hence to the city of Naperville,” said Bloom.
A plethora of pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (NOx), which is the compounding of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (N2O) due to the combustion of fossil fuels, end up in the atmosphere.
There are EPA limits on the emissions of these compounds. However, in 2023 Prairie State reportedly emitted 3,900 tons of NOx compounds while Trimble emitted 1,800 tons.
“Coal also contains many impurities such as sulfur, various heavy metals and even radioactive elements such as Uranium, Thorium and Radium. Mercury is one of the most common and toxic metals found in coal. Coal combustion leads to Mercury in the air, water and in fly ash. In 2023, Prairie State released 52 lbs of Mercury into the environment, while Trimble County emitted 35 lbs from burning coal,” said Bloom.
Staci Wilson, the agency’s director of government affairs, told the Tribune that “If member communities extend their contracts they will ease the shift to cleaner sources of energy.” The plan is for the Prairie State facilities is to be fully shut down and net zero by 2050.
Environmental groups have been fighting for clean energy in Naperville for years. Bloom believes extending this contract to 2050 will irreversibly damage the surrounding areas.
NCC response
Bloom planned to propose a faculty resolution on Dec. 5. He shifted his focus to suggest it on Jan. 23.
The Jan. 23 faculty meeting was canceled. As a result, Bloom split the faculty resolution into two pieces.
“The first is a letter to the city council that will be open to sign online (to NCC faculty and Staff) starting early next week (Jan. 20). That will be presented to the city council in early February. The second is a faculty resolution urging the NCC board of trustees to communicate to the city council against the resolution ASAP. That will be voted on at the next faculty meeting, but that’s not going to be until the end of February,” said Bloom.
Green Scene members have started petitions for the City Council to decline the contract renewal. Green Scene is likely to create tabling events to inform students.
“The first thing that we’re planning to do is get everybody in Green Scene informed. Aware of what’s happening around them, I feel like a lot of the time North Central is separated from Naperville. Jan. 21 is the next city council meeting, we are supposed to wear red, as many people, and we want them to know we’re watching,” said Gardner.
Gardner explained that she has a home in Michigan, but lives on campus, making her a Naperville resident. She emphasized that NCC students, whether commuting or not, should all realize they benefit from fossil fuel usage as they consume Naperville energy.
“Our second step is drafting a student resolution. We are going to try to turn it into a petition of some sort. North Central as a college doesn’t want to make a statement. So it’s up to the faculty and students to make our voices heard. It’s important for the Green Scene members to be involved, we’re going to be speaking during it,” said Gardner.
Gardner will also present her grievances to the city council on Feb. 4. The City Council only meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.
“We need to tell the city council how this affects us, this is our future, it’s not their future. Even though some of us aren’t residents of Naperville, we still live here. Saying no would set a precedent for other cities. We are people attempting to advocate for the environment,” said Gardner.
In November, Bloom approached President Abiódún Gòkè-Pariolá to address the Board of Trustees. He hasn’t received a response from the board.
Opportunities for civic engagement
Supporters of the renewal and opposition groups around Naperville and NCC can voice their concerns. Bloom expects petitioning and the major employers in Naperville to influence the City Council to have a nuanced conversation about the contract renewal.
“There is a website, SayNoToCoal.com that will have more details soon,” said Bloom.
Gardner emphasized that this website will offer facts and updates regarding the Naperville contract renewal decision. NEST also plans to reach out to the city’s big businesses, including synagogues and mosques, which the 203 and 204 teachers unions represents.
“It’s been dangerously quiet,” said Bloom, when referring to City Council and this decision.
At this moment, Naperville City Council has not commented on the renewal, but many advocates are urging them not to sign this contract. Bloom claims that recent indications suggest the city council could vote on the contract extension as early as February.
Multiple City Council members could not be reached for questions.
