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NOPEC outlines opt‑out natural‑gas aggregation proposal the commission will put on the ballot
Summary
NOPEC explained a proposed ballot question to authorize a citywide natural‑gas aggregation program (opt‑out model) and described a planned neutral mailing and an energy education day; commissioners confirmed the ordinance's emergency timing is to meet Board of Elections deadlines.
Ross McDonald of NOPEC told the commission the ordinance would place a question before Springfield voters asking whether the city may create a natural‑gas aggregation program that would operate on an opt‑out basis. "The ordinance would propose a question to the registered voters of Springfield as to whether or not the city should be authorized to create a natural gas aggregation program," McDonald said, and he added NOPEC will offer a neutral community mailing and an energy education day to explain choices to residents.
Staff reiterated this first reading was being presented with emergency language only to meet Board of Elections timelines for placing the question on the November ballot; if voters authorize aggregation, the city could establish a program as early as March 2027, and residents would retain a choice whether to participate under an opt‑out model.
