Kane County Reporter

Kane County Energy and Environmental Committee met June 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order

Chairman Bates called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.

Attendee Name	Organization	Title	Status	Arrived
Mavis Bates	Kane County	Chairman	Remote
Barbara Wojnicki	Kane County	Vice Chair	Absent
Deborah Allan	Kane County	Board Member	Absent
Chris Kious	Kane County	Board Member	Remote
Myrna Molina	Kane County	Board Member	Late	9:03 AM
Cherryl Strathmann	Kane County	Board Member	Remote
Todd Wallace	Kane County	Board Member	Absent
Corinne M. Pierog	Kane County	Ex-Officio County Board Chair	Absent
Kenneth C. Shepro	Kane County	Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair	Absent

Also present; Co. Bd. Members Lewis, Koppie; Environmental/Water Resources Director Wollnik & staff Klee, Linke, Ryan; Development Director VanKerkhoff & staff Miller, Tansley; ITD staff Peters; and members of the public including Sharon Durling from Illinois Aggregation Consultants.

2. Approval of Minutes: May 13, 2022

RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Chris Kious, Board Member SECONDER: Cherryl Strathmann, Board Member AYES: Mavis Bates, Chris Kious, Myrna Molina, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Barbara Wojnicki, Deborah Allan, Todd Wallace, Corinne M. Pierog, Kenneth C. Shepro

3. Public Comment

None.

4. Environmental (J. Wollnik)

1. Presentation: Electric Aggregation Program Report (attached)

Staff Klee introduced Illinois Aggregation Consultant, Sharon Durling. Durling provided a presentation on the Electric Aggregation Program. She briefly summarized the program duties. She pointed out that this program is a ComEd Price Match program that allows little to no extra cost to residents or to small business owners within unincorporated Kane County. She shared the terms of the 2-year program that helped establish Kane County as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Community. She presented the Certificate of Community Partnership presented to Kane County by the U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership in recognition of efforts to help reduce the negative health impacts of air emissions using green power. She shared an illustration on how the program's use of renewable energies, such as wind energy, reduces emissions and costs throughout the country. Durling explained how the Power Markets, such as ComEd, are in turmoil. ComEd’s supply source has changed drastically in the last decade. Coal declined from 42% to 22%, while natural gas increased from 19% to 38%. On June 1, 2022, ComEd's supply rate rose to an annualized 9.763 cents per kilowatt, which is a 31% increase over last year's rate of 7.457 cents per kilowatt. Durling noted the reasoning behind the pay rate hikes. Durling explained the ComEd rate increase is offset by a new “carbon mitigation credit” per the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Governor Pritzker signed in 2021. Nuclear generators will have to pay a rebate to customers at an estimated amount of $10-$20 per month. She provided a chart depicting ComEd's rate history over the past 10 years. Durling addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

2. Presentation: Regenerative Grazing and Sustainable Agriculture

Staff Tansley provided a presentation on Regenerative Grazing and Sustainable Agriculture. He spoke on a recent event held in October that focused on Regenerative Grazing. He provided the definition of regenerative grazing from the journal of soil and water conservation. Tansley shared an illustration depicting the benefits of regenerative agriculture for the ecosystem. He explained the natural process on how this will help the earth and animals. Tansley shared pictures of the Field Day that was held by All Grass Farms on October 30, 2021. He summarized the day-to-day operations of the farm. He explained the participants spent a day on the farm and noted the operations performed by the owner of All Grass Farms. Tansley stated the County was provided feedback from a Livestock Market Assessment to help provide information that farmers could use to make better decisions for their production. The goals of the assessment are to develop a clearer understanding of challenges and market barriers facing Kane County livestock operations and to illuminate promising markets for specialty meat productions to meet demands. Tansley addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion ensued.

3. Watershed Group Update

Staff Linke highlighted activities found in the attached memorandum. In March, the Fox River Study Group (FRSG) was successful in helping the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers secure $250k in federal funding to restart the Corps' Fox River Connectivity and Habitat Project. The study will identify and assess actions that can be done to restore riverine habitat and the connectivity between rivers to reach native fish and mussels. The FRSG would be providing $200k in local funding match for the project. The project is projected to be completed in 2024. Linke spoke on the Tyler Creek Watershed. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) received a grant from the Illinois EPA to move forward with developing an update to the Tyler Creek Watershed Plan, which would be a comprehensive water-based plan. The plan would identify the Fox River’s water quality and habitat improvement projects throughout the Tyler Creek Watershed to increase biodiversity. Linke addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

4. Presentation: Lifecycle Analysis Cost Update (attached)

Staff Klee provided a presentation on the Life Cycle Analysis Costs Update. She explained the County is in the process of verifying electric, water, and sewer costs for the rest of the County buildings, therefore, data would be location specific. A draft of the Life Cycle calculator is being reviewed by Building Management and Purchasing. The calculator would calculate a Green House Gas contribution. Klee addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

5. Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

A. Recycling Events Update

Staff Ryan provided an update on the Kane County Recycling Events. She shared the event data and pictures of the Shred & Paint Recycling Event, held on May 14, 2022. Ryan announced, on Saturday, July 9, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 540 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, the County would be hosting a Recycling Extravaganza for hard to recycle materials. For more information, visit https://www.countyofkane.org/pages/recycling. She shared additional future summer events. Ryan addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

6. Sustainability (I. Klee)

A. Presentation: Sustainability Updates (attached)

Staff Klee provided an update on the Kane County Judicial Center Solar Project. She announced the project is mobilized. Klee noted the work that has begun. She spoke on the tree planting grant Chicago Region Tree Initiative (CRTI). The County has planted 10 of the 20 trees provided on June 3, 2022. The additional 10 trees would be planted in the fall, along with the rest of the landscaping. Klee shared a map depicting where each type of tree has been planted. Klee addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

B. Fabulous Fox! Water Trail Update (attached)

Executive Planner, Karen Miller, shared an update on the Fabulous Fox Water Trail. She announced that the brochures for the 2022 paddling season are available and would be distributed among the County. She spoke on the new access signage that would be placed along the Water Trail. She shared the contents of the signs. Miller stated Kane County has been seeking marketing outlets for the Fox River Water Trail. The County has contracted with Gilmore Marketing Concepts, INC. (GMCI) to conduct a SWOTT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats, and Trends) Analysis. There will also be interviews, and host a summit for the Fox River Water Trail. Miller addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion ensued.

7. New Business

None.

8. Chair's Comments

None.

9. Reports Placed on File

RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Cherryl Strathmann, Board Member SECONDER: Chris Kious, Board Member AYES: Mavis Bates, Chris Kious, Myrna Molina, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Barbara Wojnicki, Deborah Allan, Todd Wallace, Corinne M. Pierog, Kenneth C. Shepro

10. Executive Session (If Needed)

None.

11. Adjournment

RESULT: APPROVED WITH VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Chris Kious, Board Member SECONDER: Cherryl Strathmann, Board Member AYES: Mavis Bates, Chris Kious, Myrna Molina, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Barbara Wojnicki, Deborah Allan, Todd Wallace, Corinne M. Pierog, Kenneth C. Shepro

This meeting was adjourned at 10:18 a.m.

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