Oak Park IL residents -- to opt for 100% renewable (green) energy, please follow the instructions below. On April 11, the fossil-based plan was selected as the primary energy default for Oak Park IL., but residents ACTING BY MAY 8 will be able to select a renewable energy alternative at one tenth of a cent per kilowatt hour more. For the average energy user in Oak Park, this is about 91 cents more per month than the default (brown) plan. More information from the Village about opting into the green plan is here. Scroll down for background and updates on this topic. The following instructions are courtesy of Village Manager's Association's Facebook page. *Click the image below to enlarge.

   >>>>>MORE ACTIONS! Let's show our overwhelming support for green energy in our community.

1. After you OPT INTO the GREEN (renewable) energy plan using instructions above, please TELL OTHERS TO DO SO BY MAY 8 DEADLINE.
2. Spread the word by SHARING a link to this page in an email to your networks, or in your social media activity (Facebook, Twitter, etc).

>>>>>Background/Updates:

• Links to printable flyers & handouts with Village of Oak Park Aggregation Enrollment Information.
• Village of Oak Park Energy Aggregation Program Information/instructions for opting into green energy.
• Letters to the Editor: "Oak Park Takes a Step Back from Clean Energy Leadership," Oak Leaves/Chicago Sun Times, April 29, 2014.
• "Oak Park Residents Voice Strong Support for Green Energy," Green Community Connections, April 24,2014.
• "It's Easy to Go Green (Energy) in Oak Park," Deb Quantock-McCarry, Deb's Big Backyard/Wednesday Journal, April 24, 2014.
• Change.org Green Energy Appeal PETITION closed April 24, 2014 after garnering 500+ signatures; petition supporters asked to opt into the green plan and to ask others to do so by May 8.
• "Oak Park Sustainability Group Starts Change.org Petition for All-Green Energy," Oak Leaves/Chicago Sun Times, April 24, 2014.
• "Oak Park Village Board Berated for Choice of Non-Green Electricity,"  Oak Leaves/Chicago Sun Times, April 23, 2014.
• Letters to the Editor: "Let's Seize this Chance to Opt Into Green Energy," Board Trustee Adam Salzman, Wednesday Journal, April 23, 2014.
• "Sounding Down on Brown Energy," Wednesday Journal, April 22, 2014.
• Theresa Powell, Oak Park Board Clerk, sends letter to block captains asking them to spread the word about opting into the green plan, and providing brief instructions. April 22, 2014.
• VIDEO: Oak Park Board of Trustees Special Meeting: Brown vs Green Energy Citizen Comments, April 21, 2014.
• Reminder & Updates on Oak Park Green Energy Appeal, Green Community Connections, April 21, 2014.
• "Oak Park ditches all-green power supply; residents can still opt for clean energy," Oak Leaves/Chicago Sun Times, April 18, 2014.
• "Oak Park Residents Will Still Have Green Energy Option," Chicago Tribune, April 18, 2014.
• Letters to the Editor: "Going (Down) from Green to Brown," Board Trustee Colette Luecke, Wednesday Journal, April 15, 2014.
• Letters to the Editor: "Brown Energy Costs Much More than Green," Wednesday Journal, April 15, 2014.
• "Citizens Urge Oak Park Board to 'Get on Board' with Green Energy, Green Community Connections, April 15, 2014.
• "Oak Park Religious Leaders Oppose 'Brown Energy,"Wednesday Journal, April 15, 2014.
• Letter, 4/15/14: Congregational leaders from Interfaith Green Network object to Board of Trustees decision to change to a brown energy source.
• "Oak Park Village Board Votes for Fossil Fuels," Chicago Tribune, April 13, 2014.
• "Oak Park Scraps Green Energy Program," Wednesday Journal, April 14, 2014.
• "Oak Park Finds it's Not Easy Being Green When it Comes to Electricity, Crain's Chicago Business, April 14, 2014.
• VIDEO: Oak Park Board of Trustees Special Meeting: Green vs Brown Energy Vote, April 11, 2014.
• "Governor Quinn Announces Illinois is First in the Nation in Renewable Energy Use New Report says 91 Illinois Communities Have Achieved 100 Percent Renewable Electricity," Illinois Goverment News Network, March 7, 2014.
• "Oak Park Receives US EPA Green Power Community Challenge Award for Second Year in a Row," Chicago Sun Times, September 23, 2013.
• Oak Park saves electricity consumers $1.6 million as Green Power Community," Medill Reports/Chicago's Northwestern University, October 3, 2012.
• "Oak Park Achieves 95% Residential Renewable Energy Use ," PlanItGreen (Oak Park/River Forest Sustainability Plan) Report Card 2012 - see page 5.
• US EPA Green Power Leadership Awards, United States Environmental Protection Agency, September 2012.
• "Oak Park Takes the Lead: Option to Purchase Energy from Renewable Sources," Green Community Connections, November 2, 2011.
• Letters to the Editor: "Oak Park's Green Deal is a Big Deal," Wednesday Journal, November 1, 2011.
• "Illinois City Opts for All-Green Electricity," Sustainable City Network, October 18, 2011.