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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the advantages of renewable energy?
A. Renewable power from the wind, sun, and water is pollution free and creates electricity with no combustion, no smoke and no waste. Building and maintaining renewable facilities such as solar power systems and wind farms also creates jobs and revenue for landowners and local communities.
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Q. Why does the Renewable Energy Program cost more?
A. Currently, wind, solar, and hydro energy costs more to produce than conventional energy. The increased monthly cost to participate in the program makes up for the difference between the higher cost of renewable energy and the costs of regular electricity.
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Q. How does the renewable energy get to my home or business?
A. Imagine the electric grid is a giant bathtub being filled with electricity from many different faucets. Each faucet is a different generation source, such as nuclear, coal and wind. Every time you turn on a light switch, you drain a little electricity from the tub. The renewable energy you buy goes into the electric grid which reduces the need to generate electricity from other sources. This means there will be less pollution released into the air from those sources.
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Q. Will my lights go out if the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining?
A. No. The City of Naperville will still deliver the electricity you use each day. The only difference is that some of that electricity will come from a different place – a wind farm, solar power system or small hydro facility.
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Q. Whom do I call if the power goes out?
You will still call the City of Naperville at (630) 420-6187. The city will continue to deliver your electricity and provide the same reliable utility service.
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Q. Will my current electric bill be affected by my purchase of renewable energy?
A. Yes. When you sign up for the Renewable Energy Program , the additional cost of $5 per 200 kWh will be added to your monthly electric bill. Your electric bill will go up by that amount each month.
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Q. Will there be a windmill in my backyard or a solar panel on my roof?
A. The renewable energy used in the program is generated at commercial wind farms, solar power systems and small hydro facilities here in Illinois. These facilities create electricity and deliver it directly to the same electric grid as conventional sources of electricity.
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Q. How is this different from just making a donation?
A. The cost associated with the Renewable Energy Program represents the difference between the cost of conventionally-generated electricity and the higher cost of renewable-generated electricity. You are paying for real energy production. If you sign up for the program, you are paying for a specified number of kilowatt-hours of renewable generation to be added to the local electric grid.
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Q. Do wind farms have a negative impact on birds?
A. No, not when wind farms are sited properly. The placement of some of the early wind farms resulted in the death of certain birds. Studies are now conducted to understand bird migration patterns to ensure the safe positioning of wind farms. Our wind farms locations are free of ground prey and bodies of water that may attract birds, and they located outside of bird migratory routes. Furthermore, modern wind turbine designs are much more bird-friendly. For example, solid tubular towers are used to prevent birds from perching and the turbine blades rotate much more slowly than earlier designs.
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