St. Charles officials are weighing whether to commit to a 20-year energy contract extension with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA). The decision could shape the city’s power supply, energy costs, and environmental footprint for decades to come.

The proposed extension, which would begin when the current deal expires in 2035, has sparked discussion in both St. Charles and Naperville over the IMEA’s partial reliance on coal-fired power and the long-term flexibility of the agreement.

Key things to know:

• The proposed extension would begin when the current deal expires in 2035 in both St. Charles and Naperville.

• St. Charles officials will discuss the proposed deal at their July 28 Government Operations Committee meeting, with a vote expected sometime in August.

• Some residents are voicing concerns about the agency’s continued use of coal from the Prairie State plant in southern Illinois.

• Supporters of the deal say it offers lower electricity costs and increased access to clean energy, citing projections that nearly half of IMEA’s supply could come from renewable sources by 2027.

Read more in this Daily Herald article.

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