⚡ Power problems: Can the Tri-Cities diversify its electricity portfolio?

As you may or may not know, the Tri-Cities are mostly powered by coal.

That’s not necessarily the case for most cities in the state. But unlike other towns, Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles manage their own electric utilities and get most of their power from the notorious Prairie State Energy Campus in downstate Marissa.

Batavia and Geneva are part of the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency. St. Charles belongs to the Illinois Municipal Energy Agency (along with Naperville and 30 other Illinois towns).

As a result, Batavia gets 100% of its electricity from coal. That number is 80% for St. Charles and 70% for Geneva.

Why are we talking about this today?

A legislative proposal in Illinois aimed at requiring more transparency and long-term planning from municipal power agencies (like those serving the Tri-Cities) hasn’t led to any meaningful action down in Springfield — yet.

But it's prompted important conversations locally.

The key points:

• Planning: The stalled legislation would have required these agencies to file integrated resource plans every three years.

• Evolving: These plans would help assess future electricity needs and manage risks as energy markets move toward renewables.

• Input: The legislation would have made it easier for the public to offer input on power supply decisions (something many residents have advocated for).

Local conversations

St. Charles: The city has a pivotal contract renewal decision coming up with IMEA next year. To educate the community and gather input, the city is holding several discussions about the situation.

The first occurred on April 1, featuring historical background info and an overview of the current utility situation. You can watch the full presentation here.

The discussion will continue at the next Government Services Committee Meeting on April 22.

Batavia: Though Batavia City Council opposed the legislation referenced above over local control concerns, they expressed support for proactively planning their future energy transition "on their own terms" as existing coal contracts eventually expire.

Batavia council member Alan Wolff emphasized the need to plan ahead. While he opposed being mandated on when and how to conduct energy planning, Wolff supported Batavia proactively addressing these issues on their own terms.

Here’s some useful background on the evolution of Batavia’s electric power contracts since the turn of the century.

📰 News to use

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☑️ Another tragedy: A 31-year-old St. Charles man died in a crash with a utility pole on Route 64 near Anderson Road on Friday.

🔒 Mistreatment case: Authorities are investigating reports of abuse at Geneva’s Marklund Hyde Center, a nonprofit that provides housing and services to people with developmental disabilities.

☑️ Countering a crisis: Two new grants will boost Kane County’s efforts to combat opioid overdoses and offer addiction support to the public.

☑️ Dangerous game: Incidents of suburban high school students playing a water gun game known as “Senior Assassins” in public have police concerned in several suburbs (including St. Charles).

🔒 Legal fairness: A new Kane County bill, if passed, would make it harder for a defendant to use “voluntary intoxication” as a defense for criminal conduct.

🔒 Twister trends: There were 118 tornadoes in Illinois last year — the third most in history. Experts believe warmer winters and a hotter Gulf of Mexico may be contributing factors.

🏘️ In the community

☑️ Shaping the future: Weigh in on (or simply learn about) specific goals and policies proposed in Batavia’s Downtown Plan at a public hearing on Wednesday at 7PM.

☑️ Local icon: After more than a century of serving milk and ice cream to happy customers, Oberweis Dairy has filed for bankrupty.

☑️ Super power: A national electric utility trade group recognized Geneva as one of the top cities for exceptional electric reliability in the country.

☑️ All things STC: St. Charles is inviting residents to engage with Mayor Vitek, Alderpersons and city staff at a ‘State of the City’ event planned for May 16.

☑️ Planting prep: You can still hit up Batavia’s “Seed Library” for your herbs, fruits, flowers and vegetables, but you should do it soon — supplies are dwindling.

🎸 Live music 

With the weather warming up, I imagine we’ll start seeing a few more mid-week live music performances popping up soon.

In the meantime, it’s a pretty standard lineup this week — culminating with seven performances on Thursday.

🏬 Local biz

☑️ Dine + create: Lauren McLauchlan, chef and owner of Ugly Noodle, is teaming up with local artist Caitlin Palagi to host a one-of-a-kind evening that’s part art class, part tasting experience.

☑️ Talkin’ shop: The latest episodes of the What’s Up St. Charles podcast include conversations with the folks behind House of Charlemagne, Fry N’ Wings and LUX Dance Studio.

🗓️ Events + things to do

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🎟️ Spring Looks & Laughs | Wednesday, 6:30-9PM | Moonlight Theatre, STC | What happens when you mix hysterical comedy with a fashion show and food/drinks? A very fun evening, that’s what.

☑️ Books Between Bites | Thursday, 12-1PM | Batavia Public Library | Batavia author (and professional essayist) Marnie Mamminga and artist Mary C. Parks will discuss their new book and other topics at this popular session.

🎟️ Derby on Down Cocktail Class | Thursday, 6PM | Copper Fox, Geneva | Learn how to put on an unforgettable Kentucky Derby party with classic Kentucky cocktails and appetizer pairings.

🎟️ Swiftie Album Release Party | Friday, 6-8PM | Wilson Street Mercantile, Batavia | Drinks, treats, friendship bracelets and all things Taylor — bring the whole fam!

🎟️ Spring Pickleball Tournaments | April 27 | Batavia Civic Center | Doubles tournaments for beginners and intermediate/advanced players. Featuring this now so folks have time to plan/register.

🏛️ Civic updates

All three City Councils will hold meetings tonight:

☑️ Batavia agenda: Resolutions related to roadway crack filling, stormwater infrastructure, a fire department staffing study and the crisis in Gaza — plus proclamations for Arbor Day and National Bike Month.

• Alderman Dustin Pieper has the inside scoop on top-of-mind topics, including biking/pedestrian updates, zoning changes and utility legislation.

☑️ Geneva agenda: Contract authorizations for wetlands management services, a mosquito abatement program and plumbing inspection services.

☑️ St. Charles agenda: Motions to allow Langum Park to be used for the Spring 2024 “Train the Trooper” event and First Street Plaza for STC Live! music events.

Plus street closure approvals for the “Paint the Riverside” event, the Memorial Day Parade and Walnut Avenue next to Flagship on the Fox. (That’s just a small sampling…this’ll be a jam-packed meeting).

🌖 Weather snapshot

☀️ Today: High 74F | Low 47F | Keep it going

🌨️ Tuesday: High 68F | Low 50F | Chance of showers

🌨️ Wednesday: High 69F | Low 53F | More rain

🌨️ Thursday: High 59F | Low 42F | Getting chillier

📖 How am I doing?

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