Government Center  
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A  
Geneva, IL 60134  
Kane County  
KC Energy and Environmental  
Committee  
Meeting Minutes  
BATES, Tarver, Allan, Kious, Penesis, Strathmann, Young, ex-officios Roth (County Vice  
Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)  
Friday, May 16, 2025  
9:00 AM  
County Board Room  
2025 Committee Goals  
•
Pursue funding to improve energy efficiency in Kane County Government-owned  
buildings  
•
Upon passage of the Tree Protection Ordinance, develop budget and implementation  
strategy for the Ordinance and an educational program to promote Tree Protection  
•
Develop Client Action Implementation teams and assist team in prioritizing action items  
and development strategies  
•
•
Increase education and improve overall recycling in Kane County buildings  
Community outreach to education about the CAIP  
_______________________________________________________________________  
1.  
2.  
Call To Order  
Chairman Bates called today's meeting to order at 9:00 AM.  
Roll Call  
Board Member Mavis Bates  
PRESENT  
Board Member Deborah Allan  
Board Member Chris Kious  
Board Member Ted Penesis  
Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth  
Board Member Bill Tarver  
Board Member David Young  
Board Member Cherryl Strathmann  
REMOTE  
ABSENT  
Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog  
Also present: Co. Bd. members Gripe, Juby*; Recycling Coordinator Ryan;  
Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw* and staff Powell; KCFB Mgr. Arnold; ASA Frank; ITD staff  
Kash; and members of the press and public including Progressive Energy Group Mgr.  
Arnie Schramel.  
3.  
Remote Attendance Requests  
Chairman Bates announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She  
asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Members Tarver and  
Young attending remotely. There were no objections.  
4.  
Approval of Minutes: April 11, 2025  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Chris Kious  
5.  
6.  
7.  
Public Comment (Agenda Items)  
None.  
Environmental (J.Wollnik)  
No report was made.  
Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)  
Recycling Coordinator Ryan stated that the resolutions from last month's meeting  
authorizing subaward agreements with Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIU), Advocate  
Sherman Hospital, and the Kane County Cougars were passed through County Board.  
(Committee Member Allan arrived at 9:07 a.m.) However, it was discovered that the  
funds associated with the agreement and federal awards system cannot be accessed.  
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been contacted numerous  
times on this delay. Depending on when and if the funds become available, the project  
may or may not be pursued. An update on these resolutions will be reported at next  
month's meeting. Lastly, Ryan announced that a recycling event will be held on  
Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Circuit Clerk's Office. There will  
be recycling stations for shredding confidential documents, and collecting any clothing,  
shoes, textiles, small decorative home goods, latex paints, bicycles, and books to be  
recycled or re-used. Further discussion took place.  
8.  
Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)  
Solar Savings and Opportunities for Kane County  
A.  
Progressive Energy Group Mgr. Arnie Schramel provided information on the  
electric spend estimates, and green attributes for Kane County's Solar Field at  
the Judicial Center. The projected cost for the solar fields to produce energy is  
$4M. Schramel explained the transmission and capacity aspects of solar energy.  
Schramel noted that transmission capacity is crucial for integrating solar into the  
broader electricity grid, especially as solar's share of the energy mix increases.  
He indicated that with electricity prices increasing, the cost savings of solar  
energy will benefit the county in the long run. Schramel reviewed the average  
annual electric load growths. Currant forecasts anticipate 3% growth which  
would mean six times the planning and construction of new generation and  
transmission capacity. Schramel provided information on the solar opportunities  
for residents, businesses, and governmental. Incentives will pay for 50%-65% of  
the solar project for residents. The payback for installing solar on rooftops for  
residents is almost always less than 7 years. Purchase Price Agreements (PPA)  
and Lease Arrangements are available to allow residents to have solar with no  
upfront money. For business, governmental and non-profit organizations, the  
payback on solar is less than 5 years. Schramel stated that Progressive  
Business Solutions is currently working with Kane County to combine ComEd  
accounts into a bid package for Community Solar subscriptions for the County.  
These five to ten megawatt fields are available to residents and businesses who  
are unable to install solar on their property. The savings are guaranteed to be  
10%-15% less than the ComEd Energy Supply rate. With these subscriptions, it  
is projected that Kane County could save $100K per year. Schramel addressed  
questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion ensued.  
Cost Savings for Clean Energy  
B.  
Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw provided information on the electricity cost savings  
for the parking lot lights at the Judicial Center, the newly installed heating,  
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. She also provided an update  
on the electrical vehicle and charging infrastructure rebates. The total cost of the  
indoor and outdoor lights at the Judicial Center was $2M. The cost of the  
parking lot lights was $233K. There were a total of 275 lights replaced, 182K  
kilowatts were removed, and a total of $21K in annual cost savings. Additionally,  
7 new rooftop HVAC units were replaced in the County Court and Jail. She  
explained the Seasonal, Energy, Efficiency, and rating (SEER) for the new  
systems. The potential savings for the new HVAC systems will be $33K over a  
fifteen year period. More accurate savings will be provided after installation.  
Lastly, Hinshaw stated that clean energy tax credits were applied for two fully  
electric cargo vans, and two hybrids, as well as a new charger and  
infrastructure. The ComEd rebates have been distributed, and tax credits were  
submitted and accepted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The total cost  
savings was $59K, which resulted in a 26% return. Hinshaw addressed  
questions and comments from the Committee. Further discussion took place.  
Approving a Weatherization Rebate Program for Kane County Farmers  
KC Finance and Budget Committee  
C.  
RESULT:  
TO:  
MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE  
KC Finance and Budget Committee  
Chris Kious  
MOVER:  
Ted Penesis  
SECONDER:  
Mavis Bates, Deborah Allan, Chris Kious, Ted Penesis, and Bill  
Roth  
AYE:  
Cherryl Strathmann, and Corinne M. Pierog  
Bill Tarver, and David Young  
ABSENT:  
AWAY:  
9.  
New Business  
Committee Member Kious announced that rejuvenation of the Geneva Creek was  
completed, and is now open for tourism.  
10.  
11.  
Chairs Comments  
Chairman Bates thanked her staff for all the hard work they do, and for always striving  
to find ways to save the county money through sustainability.  
Reports Placed On File  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT  
Chris Kious  
12.  
13.  
Executive Session (if needed)  
None.  
Adjournment  
RESULT:  
APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE  
Ted Penesis  
Bill Roth  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
This meeting was adjourned at 10:42 a.m.  
Rachel Santora  
Recording Secretary