Government Center

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A

Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Energy and Environmental

Committee

Meeting Minutes

BATES, Tarver, Allan, Kious, Roth, Strathmann, Young, ex-officios Pierog (County Chair), and

Tepe (County Vice Chair)

Friday, April 12, 2024

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Bates called today's meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.

Roll Call

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Chris Kious

Board Member Bill Roth

PRESENT

Board Member David Young

Board Member Bill Tarver

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Vern Tepe

REMOTE

ABSENT

Also present: Co. Bd. members Gumz*, Juby*, Lewis; Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff; Recycling

Res. Coordinator Ryan; Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw; ITD staff Peters; and members of

the press and public.

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 Strathmann

and Tarver attending today's meeting remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: March 15, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

None.

Public Comment (Non- Agenda Items)

None.

Environmental (J.Wollnik)

Proposed Hydrogen Storage Facility

Dev. Dir. VanKerkhoff shared several slides with information on Kane County

and the Emerging Hydrogen Economy. He highlighted several facts on how

Kane County is working to be ahead of the curve in planning for and welcoming

appropriate components of the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen will be necessary

to support broad de-carbonization scenarios, and can contribute across the

economy, from chemical inputs, low carbon fuels, to resilient power.

VanKerkhoff explained the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) and

that it is a multi-state coalition of public and private entities representing every

phase in the hydrogen value chain. To learn more information about the

MachH2 you can go to the website MachH2.com. VanKerkhoff indicated that the

estimates for the hydrogen market in Illinois could be as large as $654M by

2030 and upwards of $4.6B by 2050. He explained that clean hydrogen will

create more clean energy jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and position

America to compete in the clean energy market on a global scale. Nicor Gas can

be a strategic partner for customers looking to incorporate hydrogen into its

businesses. VanKerkhoff stated that transit agencies across the nation have

been investigating, and operating alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cell electric

buses (FCEB's). New and innovative technologies may be invented and

developed in the coming years which may be of interest to Pace. He stated that

both the development staff and lobbyists are researching a variety of

Department of Energy programs that will support the Hydrogen future.

VanKerkhoff addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Much

discussion ensued.

Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

2023 in Review: Curbside, Centers & Events

Recycling Coordinator Ryan shared the county's total of residential curbside

material. The County reported 184K households with curbside hauling services.

The total household discards in 2023 was 253,915 tons. (Committee Member

Allan arrived at 9:36 a.m.) Ryan recognized Kane County's top curbside

recyclers for 2023, which include Pinegree Grove, St. Charles, Algonquin,

Gilberts, and North Aurora. She highlighted that the Pop-up Recycling at

Geneva Park District Earth Day Celebration will be April 20, 2024 from 11:00

a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Peck Farm Park. The KCR-hosted spring Shred n' More

event will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Circuit

Clerk's Building.

Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)

Judicial Center Solar Project

Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw stated that the initial savings from the Judicial Solar

Project was in the amount of $926 in December 2023. This is half of one percent

of the anticipated production over a year period. Hinshaw stated that she will

continue to update the Committee on the Kane County Judicial Solar Project

data as it becomes available.

April 2024 Sustainability Updates

Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw stated that the Rain Barrel and Compost Bin

Program is back. Individuals must pre-order bins before May 5, 2024, and mail

orders are due by May 2, 2024. The cost of rain barrels are $69.50 each and the

stationary composters are $75.50 each. Pick up times will be on Friday, May 10,

2024, at Creek Bend Nature Center at the LeRoy Oaks Forest Preserve in St.

Charles from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hinshaw announced that the Climate Pollution

Reduction Grant was submitted April 1, 2024. The total budget for the Climate

Pollution Reduction Grant was $114M, and the Greenhouse Gas reduction total

was $81K.

10.

11.

New Business

Committee Member Young referenced a hailstorm in Texas a few months ago. He

indicated that the glass of a large Cadmium Telluride solar panel farm had shattered.

Due to this incident, individuals are now worried about the shattered remains going into

the soil and into their drinking water. Young expressed to the Committee that this is

something to be aware of for installing solar panels.

Chairs Comments

Chairman Bates announced that in Oklahoma a new facility that recycles lithium

batteries. She also shared that she attended a successful Tree Ordinance Seminar on

April 11, 2024.