Interim City Manager Scott Stiles today announced his intention to keep Cincinnati’s electricity green after City Councilman Chris Seelbach rallied a majority of council to oppose Stiles’ earlier plan to go back to using conventional fossil fuels to light and heat the city.
Instead, Cincinnati will continue using 100-percent renewable-backed energy from First Energy Solutions.
The city signed on with First Energy in 2012, making Cincinnati the largest metropolitan are in the country to use 100-percent renewable energy.
Stiles was expected to sign the three-year contract with First Energy Solutions today, according to city spokeswoman Meg Olberding.
Sellbach and other council members convinced Stiles to change his mind about the contract, Olberding says.
She also added that First Energy told Stiles it would allow any customer who wants to save the additional $5.63 annual savings of conventional energy to opt-out of the green energy agreement.
The green energy plan is estimated to save customers $43.58 compared Duke’s standard service.
About 65,000 households and small businesses will continue using First Energy unless they choose to retain another energy supplier.
Stiles will also institute a green energy fee of $.006 on each electric bill as part of a program he’s developing that will help local business owners and residents equip their homes or offices with energy-saving solutions. The program will be run by the Office of Environment and Sustainability.
