Mentor‑on‑the‑Lake council hears NOPEC pitch for 100% renewable default, tables resolution for review
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Summary
NOPEC representatives presented a Green Community Choice option that would make a 100% renewable product the default for Mentor‑on‑the‑Lake’s aggregation program; council tabled Resolution 2025‑R‑36 to allow absent members time to review materials. The presenters said the typical household impact would be about $1.75 per month.
NOPEC (the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council) representatives described a Green Community Choice option to Mentor‑on‑the‑Lake City Council on Nov. 11, saying it would make a 100% renewable supply the default in the city’s electricity aggregation program beginning June 2026 while preserving residents’ ability to opt out.
"The Green Community Choice program enables your residents to acquire 100% renewable energy at a lower cost than if you were not a Green Community Choice community," said Kyla Presto of NOPEC during the presentation. NOPEC presenter Deepa said the typical Ohio household would see an average monthly adder of about $1.75, based on roughly 870 kilowatt‑hours of monthly use.
NOPEC staff explained that the 100% figure refers to renewable energy credits and certified renewable supply that are tracked to the community’s account; the physical electricity delivered over the distribution system would continue to be provided and billed by the local utility. "We will be working very diligently to generate more and more local solar," Deepa said, adding that initial supplier deliveries may come from outside Ohio while NOPEC pursues local projects and power‑purchase agreements.
Council members asked about opt‑out behavior and grid impacts. NOPEC said opt‑out rates in communities that have adopted green defaults have been comparable to other aggregation options and that the program provides written enrollment notices and a 24/7 care center for customers. When asked about data centers and grid reliability, NOPEC told the council that PJM Interconnection manages regional supply and demand and that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has regulatory authority; NOPEC said it performs advocacy but does not regulate utilities or data‑center siting.
After the presentation and a period of questions, Council moved to table Resolution 2025‑R‑36 to the next meeting so absent members could review the material. The motion to table was made and seconded; the clerk called the roll and recorded aye votes from members present. No formal passage on the resolution occurred.
The resolution remains on the council docket for a future meeting when full council can consider the measure.
