Student asks District 203 to oppose IMEA coal contract renewal to meet district carbon goals

Rakshita Ruparel, an incoming senior at Naperville North High School and a member of District 203's Carbon Action Plan steering committee, urged the board July 14 to adopt a resolution saying a potential renewal of Naperville's contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) would make it difficult for the district to meet its climate goals. "Naperville is at a critical decision point," Ruparel said. She told trustees the IMEA contract that supplies much of the city's electricity is, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data cited in her remarks, roughly 70% to 80% coal-fired, compared with about 12.8% coal for the statewide average. She warned that extending a long-term contract would constrain the district's ability to reach its stated targets of reducing emissions 35% by 2035 and achieving net zero by mid-century. Ruparel asked the board to consider "adopting a resolution stating that renewing the IMEA contract would make it difficult for the district to meet its climate goals, and that District 203 supports the city in setting its own decarbonization targets and selecting an energy provider that aligns with them." She identified herself as an intern with Accelerate Climate Solutions and invited trustees to a student-led panel, Planet Earth's Future, on July 21 at the Naperville Municipal Center. Trustees did not take action on the request during the July 14 meeting. The comment was delivered during the public-comment period; administrators later noted that the superintendent serves as the district's designee to respond to public-comment questions relating to district operations.