Evanston, IL. Purchases Offset 20% Energy with Wind

The city of Evanston, Ill., has purchased 5.5 million kWh of renewable energy credits (RECs) from Baltimore-based Constellation NewEnergy to offset 20% of the city’s electricity use with wind energy.

Under the agreement, the utility will serve the city’s combined peak demand load of approximately 19 million kWh per year, which is required to power several high-profile municipal facilities, including the Robert Crown Ice Arena, Evanston Art and Cultural Centers, the Ecology Center, the municipal water pumps, and the city’s parks and recreational facilities.

2005, the city was promoted to silver status by Clean Air Counts, a northeastern Illinois regional initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.