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ComEd says Freeport qualifies for Select Community discounts; council seeks details on citywide use
Summary
ComEd representative reported that Freeport is on the utility’s Select Community list, which provides stackable discounts for energy‑efficiency projects; council members asked for a citywide assessment and examples of potential savings.
A ComEd representative told the council that Freeport qualifies for the utility’s Select Community program (formerly called Distressed Communities), which makes communities eligible for stackable discounts on lighting and certain energy‑efficiency upgrades.
George Golerap, external affairs manager for ComEd, said the program provides incentives such as a per‑watt credit for reducing fixture wattage when switching to modern LED lighting and other stackable reductions for eligible projects produced in Illinois. “For every watt you reduce, it’s $1,” he said as an example of how credits can accumulate when older high‑wattage fixtures are replaced with lower‑wattage LED technology.
Council members asked whether the program applies citywide and how prior funds were used. Staff said Freeport had previously received program assistance in 2021 (manager Boyer recalled a figure of about $81,000), and that in that instance ComEd funds went directly to the contractor for a downtown lighting project. Darren and city manager Boyer said the city has worked with ComEd and other partners to correct application paperwork and pursue larger discounts for corridor and citywide projects. Council members asked staff to provide calculations showing likely savings and how discounts would apply across neighborhoods rather than focusing solely on downtown corridors.
