ComEd Hosts Community Energy Challenge for Chicagoland Communities

ComEd today announced its first Community Energy Challenge, one of the first of its kind in the nation. A dozen local municipalities have been chosen to participate due to their demonstrated commitment to sustainability. The Challenge will kick off Nov. 12 with a Mayors’ Planning Charrette at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and will run through May 2010.

The Challenge is designed to help municipalities in the ComEd service territory develop and implement cost-effective energy efficiency pilot projects to support municipal sustainability objectives. Environmental sustainability refers to balancing the use of natural resources to meet the needs of the present while ensuring natural resources are available for future generations.

ComEd is engaging these communities in the planning stages to help design the programs. Challenge participants will have the opportunity to secure funding at the conclusion of the Challenge to assist in meeting climate change and other sustainability objectives in their community.

“We’re proud to work with these communities in developing actionable energy efficiency plans that are on the leading edge of environmental sustainability initiatives,” said Val R. Jensen, vice president, Marketing and Environmental Programs, ComEd. “This pilot program recognizes the past efforts of these communities while ensuring that their energy efficiency focus translates to structured programs that can serve as a model for other communities.”

The Community Energy Challenge is the latest addition to ComEd’s Smart Ideas portfolio of energy efficiency programs and supports Exelon 2020, a comprehensive strategy announced earlier this year by Exelon, ComEd’s parent company, to reduce, offset or displace more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emitted by its family of companies and customers.

ComEd’s other environmental initiatives include the 12 Ways to Green campaign to educate customers about ways to conserve energy, save money and help the environment; operating one of the largest private fleets of biodiesel vehicles; and other efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

Working in conjunction with the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus, ComEd selected the participating communities based on their commitment to sustainability. These communities include Aurora, Carol Stream, Elgin, Evanston, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Northbrook, Oak Park, Orland Park, Palatine, Schaumburg and Wilmette.

“Northern Illinois municipalities are at the forefront of innovative environmental strategies. This public-private partnership between our member municipalities and ComEd is a tremendous opportunity to work together to reduce electricity consumption,” said Dave Bennett, executive director, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

Project plans will be judged on their potential to meet energy and sustainability requirements including reducing municipal building energy consumption; reducing community energy consumption; addressing community education surrounding energy efficiency and sustainability; meeting regulatory cost effectiveness requirements, and leveraging resources to meet a sustainability objective. Funding from the reserve will be awarded to municipalities based on their plans’ energy reduction potential.

ComEd, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) will provide program design and technical assistance throughout the Challenge.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.