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Rochelle Municipal Utilities and the University of Illinois System’s EnergySense Resilience Center will host an open house on August 11, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Rochelle City Hall to share a draft and gather public feedback on the Rochelle Energy Action Plan. The Energy Action Plan will help RMU and the communities it serves maintain stable energy prices while aligning with the sustainable and renewable energy transition mandated by the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The open house will provide refreshments, and in-person attendees will be entered for a chance to win a Nest smart thermostat.
The Energy Action Plan project is fully funded by a community energy efficiency block grant from the Illinois EPA Energy Office. The grant was obtained by the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone at the Blackhawk Hills Regional Council on behalf of Rochelle. EnergySense, a technical assistance program housed under the Office of Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation at the University of Illinois System, was contracted in July 2025 to develop the plan.
CEJA requires that fossil-fuel electric generation in Illinois shall either reduce emissions to zero or close fossil-fueled power plants by 2045. As RMU obtains about 40% of current demand from the coal-fired power station at the Prairie State Energy Campus, closure of this facility will place a large strain on RMU to source new generation capacity. Building new generation capacity can potentially cause higher energy prices. Trying to buy that capacity from energy markets can subject RMU’s customers to higher price volatility.
The Energy Action Plan describes strategies under four key goals to help RMU achieve its vision to provide affordable, resilient energy to its customers: short-term energy efficiency, long-term energy procurement, rate stability and affordability, and community engagement and awareness. Strategies under these goals range from implementing energy efficiency programs, utility distribution and monitoring improvements, incentives to help low-income and disadvantaged customers, and low-cost energy procurement options.