Opinion: 'Green Power' is Right for Evanston

The following is a letter to the editor from Evanston resident Jack Darin:

March's election results show that Evanston residents like the idea of gathering our strength to get a better deal on the power we buy for our homes and small businesses.

The voters are right — aggregating our electricity purchasing will save us all money on our power bill, and can help clean the air by using 100% green power. However, there are other bottom-line benefits to going to an all-green supply that we need to capture for taxpayers and Evanston businesses.

First, buying green power is a bargain for Evanston taxpayers. Evanston's Climate Action Plan, which has the support of the City Council and a broad spectrum of residents and community organizations, calls for real steps to cut Evanston's pollution. Buying 100% green power would satisfy the emissions reductions goals of the Climate Action Plan, and at a negligible expense. We are a community that strives for the best — how often do we hit those goals on time and under budget? Anyone who opposes buying green power for Evanston either doesn't support the Climate Action Plan, or is in favor of more expensive means of meeting those goals.

Second, buying green power is a major business development opportunity for our community. Because Evanston's green power supply would also cover our small businesses, we can give those enterprises a very powerful marketing tool along with a lower electric bill. Our small businesses could boast of being located in "Evanston - a 100% Green Power Community," or that their products are produced with 100% green power. These are very powerful marketing advantages we can give Evanston businesses if we green their electric supply.

There are many reasons to be for 100% green power in Evanston.  On the one hand, we need to do the right thing for our health today and for future generations.   On the other hand, we have a chance to protect taxpayers and help our small businesses grow.  Either way, 100% clean power is a winner for Evanston.

Evanston Patch welcomes letters to the editor. Submissions should include your name and contact information, for purposes of verification, and may be edited for clarity or profanity. Letters reflect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of Evanston Patch or its staff.