Village of Westmont
Date Issued: March 13, 2013
On March 4, 2013, the Village of Westmont received a Cool Cities Award from the Sierra Club. Lonnie Morris, Cool Cities Coordinator for the State of Illinois, presented the award to Mayor Pro Tem Sue Senicka in response to the Village’s commitment to using renewable energies.
The Cool Cities Award was achieved by fulfilling the Village’s commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions in Westmont by 7 percent by 2012. Through the bid specifications of the Village of Westmont’s Electric Aggregation program from last year, not only did the Village save money for Westmont residents by lowering their electric bills, but they also committed to purchasing electricity from environmentally friendly electric company producers.
"I think it's very important for Westmont to be involved with a program like this,” says Westmont resident George Hamper, who is a regional representative for the Environmental Protection Agency and the former chair for the Westmont Environmental Improvement Commission. “It has become clear that scientists correctly reported greenhouse gas emissions are a contributing factor to climate disruption. Measures such as this will definitely improve the environment."
Hamper added that recent temperature statistics are of concern. In 2010, there was a record for the highest annual average temperature for the entire planet, and in 2012, the United States recorded the highest annual average temperature since statistics such as these were first recorded in 1895. The Village Climate Action Plan will be reviewed at the March 18, 2013 Village Board meeting.
Additionally, Morris mentioned that residents may be able to achieve lower gas bills through an energy efficiency program through NiCor Gas. For more information, visit their website at www.nicorgasrebates.com.
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Contact: Larry McIntyre
Village of Westmont Media Relations Coordinator
630-417-0280, lmcintyre@westmont.il.gov
