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, January 17, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

Call To Order

Chairman Bates called today's meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Mavis Bates

PRESENT

Board Member Chris Kious

Board Member Ted Penesis

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Board Member David Young

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Bill Tarver

REMOTE

ABSENT

Board Member Deborah Allan

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Also present: Co. Bd. members Gripe, Juby*; Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik;

Recycling Coordinator Ryan; Sustainability Coordinator Powell; ITD staff Peters; and

members of the press and public, including Solar Programs Coordinator Marina Minic*.

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 Member Tarver

attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minute: November 15, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

Committee Member and Kane County resident Young spoke on the Climate Action

Plan. He stated that Pale Blue Dot was the consultant that conducted a report for the

Energy & Environmental Committee. The report showed there were 825 respondents

who said yes to wanting a Kane County Climate Action Plan. Young went on to state

his concerns on the Co2 levels of greenhouse gas emissions in Kane County.

Environmental (J.Wollnik)

Presentation from Marina Minic from the Citizens Utility Board on the progress of

SolarSwitch Chicagoland

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik referenced a photo showing a drainage,

water, and heat recovery system within her house. She explained that with this

system you are able to see a 40 degree temperature increase from the electrical

water heater to the outside vertical sewer pipes. (Committee Member Allan

arrived at 9:14 a.m.)

Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik introduced Kane County intern, Abby Wells.

She is a senior at Wheaton College. She is currently working with Sustainability

Mgr. Hinshaw on research and data compilations to potentially obtain a Lead

Certificate for Kane County.

Marina Minic is the Solar Programs Coordinator for the Citizens Utility Board

(CUB). She helps coordinate the CUB's solar group-buy program and educates

consumers about clean and affordable energy. Residents can register on the

website by answering a few basic questions with no cost or obligations. Minic

explained that Solar Switch Chicagoland is a solar group buy program that gives

residents and easier and more affordable path to on-site solar. The original

nonprofit partners are CUB, and Midwest Renewable Energy Association

(MREA). County partners help share the program with their residents, and the

program prioritizes education, affordability, and consumer protections. She

noted that in 2023, a company named IChooser was added to help scale up the

program more affectively to residents. The Solar Switch program is open to

anyone in the Chicagoland area, including Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, McHenry,

and Kendall County residents.The program has a website where residents can

Together Solar, which allows the program to grow and adapt to the products

offered. The launch of the new brand will take place on February 14, 2025. Minic

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion

ensued.

Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

Recycling Program Updates

Recycling Coordinator Ryan stated that the application for $396,109 for federal

funds were submitted on September 3, 2024. She noted that the project concept

was presented to the Energy and Environment Committee on September 13,

2024. The grant was received and approved on December 16, 2024. The grant

start date will be on March 1, 2025. Ryan noted that the two-year project's first

goal will be to pilot food waste separation and collection at multiple large

institutions, including the Kane County Adult Justice Center, Northern Illinois

Food Bank, Kane County Cougars (Medicine Field), and Sherman Hospital

(Advocate Health). The additional goals will be to pilot a public food scrap

drop-off at Fabyan in the off season, grow a culture of composting in Kane

County through outreach and education, and improve small grower and

community garden access to finished composts. Ryan announced that the

Recycle Coach "What Goes Where" tool is now available online to residents.

The tool is an interactive database showing residents all local reuse, recycling

and disposal options for the materials listed. Lastly, Ryan announced there will

be a Pop-up & Shred Event at Geneva Commons Saturday, January 18, 2025

from 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Kane County and E-Works will be collecting

electronics, clothing and textile, books and paper at the site. Representatives will

be answering resident's questions, and handing out Recycle Coach flyers. She

addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion

ensued.

Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)

Climate Action Implementation Plan Updates on Transportation and Land Use

Chairman Bates recommended to the Committee that due to lack of time before

the next meeting, the Sustainability presentation will be moved to next month's

meeting.

New Business

None.

10.

Chairs Comments: Our Future Home: Clean and Healthy Buildings

Chairman Bates shared an upcoming event that will be held at the Batavia Public

Library on Monday, January 27, 2025 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. sponsored by the Sierra

Club-Valley of the Fox. There will be discussions on how switching to electric

appliances can reduce carbon, lower energy costs, and protect your health. There will

be discussions on the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act and its upcoming bill in the

Illinois State legislature, which would create a plan to reduce building emissions in

Illinois.