Northbrook, IL Wind-Generated Energy Purchases
Northbrook,
IL,
US
Type: Policy
Status: Initiated in 2004
Source File: http://www.northbrook.il.us/Services/Green_energy.php
Description:
Clean Alternative Energy
2004, the Village purchased its first renewable energy credits (REC's), also known as "green tags", of wind-generated energy from an Illinois based wind farm in Mendota Hills located in Lee County. Northbrook was the first and only municipal organization in Illinois to take this leadership role in purchasing REC’s during 2004. Because of our commitment, Northbrook was invited as a special guest for the wind farm dedication ceremony.
2006 and renewed during 2007, we expanded our leadership role and committed to an annual purchase of 4,500 megawatt hours of wind-generated energy, a quantity sufficient to run our entire water utility! The environmental impact of the purchase makes a statement on our commitment for clean air and the use of clean sustainable energy alternatives and our concern of our impact and contribution to global warming. Based on Midwest power plant averages as reported by the U.S. EPA, this annual purchase:
- Offset’s the burning of 1.915 million pounds of coal per year.
- Offset’s the production of 4,992,507 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere each year.
- Offset’s the production of 22,194 lbs of sulfur dioxide (SO2) each year.
- Offset’s the production of 12,194 pounds of nitrogen oxides (NOx) each year.
- Is equivalent to the benefits of planting 339,626 trees.
- Is equivalent to energy savings by not driving 4,311,562 auto miles per year.
- Is equivalent to taking 738 cars off the road.