The utilities committee passed on the second wind power contract to the full city council, without too much discussion. It's on the debate agenda; chairman Edwards said he was putting it on the debate agenda so that all of the new aldermen could have a crack at it. I missed the opportunity during discussion of the ordinance, but during the closing opportunity to address the committee, I had a chance to ask whether the contracts include a provision for purchases past the ten-year contract period (no). The committee was running late, so I was going to leave it at that, but alderwoman Simpson kindly asked for clarification of whether that meant I was against the contract, which gave me a chance to say, no, that I felt that this gave us an incentive to develop clean energy infrastructure within Springfield.
Following the utilities committee, CWLP held its hearing on five PURPA standards. (See their recommendations here.) I'll have more detail in the next few days, but I think the outcome is that the comment period will be open until June 21. The link to their recommendations includes information on how to submit comments.
I have no idea how CWLP staff took comments from CES, Sustainable Springfield, and Community Energy Systems (whose members and fellow travelers were the only people in attendance, save for one guy I didn't know, who--probably sanely--left early). I think they found us a bit oddball and feisty. My hope is that we've given them something to chew over.
However, we need more comments. I think CWLP is resisting seeing this as an opportunity to set rules that encourage renewable energy within Springfield, but it doesn't have to be that way. This is our utility, and if we want them to change what they do, we have to get out there and ask--we have to lead.