In today’s AUSenergy News Update: A New Jersey city has to put their GEA plans on hold, Chicago looks to ratepayers to fund a new energy efficiency program, and ISO New England makes predictions on how the closing of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant will affect electricity prices and the environment.

Paterson, NJ Government Energy Aggregation

Summary: The city of Paterson, NJ has learned that Passaic counties’ energy consultant was not officially hired to carry out a GEA program and has decided to wait to join in the county’s program until they pick a consultant.
AUS Comment: In contrast, AUS’s approach to GEA is one that includes the community throughout the process, which helps avoid the confusion and inevitable distrust that is going on within Passaic County, the city of Paterson, and the residents of those places.

Chicago Program Helps Finance Energy Efficiency

Summary: In a November 4 filing with the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Chicago Infrastructure Trust outlined a new program that would enable it, and other parties pursuing big-ticket energy efficiency projects, to defray at least some of their costs by collecting payments from Commonwealth Edison Co. as furnished by ratepayers.
AUS Comment: There may be a new surcharge added to their energy bill to cover some of the costs of big energy efficiency improvements on municipal buildings.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant to Close in 2014

Summary: The New England power grid operator, ISO New England, expects greenhouse gas emissions and wholesale energy prices to rise as a result of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s closing in late 2014.
AUS Comment: Wholesale energy prices could possibly rise. EIA expects natural gas prices to rise steadily, albeit slowly, over the next three decades.