Altamont Council Discusses Solar Energy

Altamont city council members this week acted on measures related to solar energy.

Altamont has a municipally-owned electric generating department. The Altamont council is offering credits on utility bills to those who generate solar energy. The Council this week also set a solar avoided cost rate of .0542 cents per kilowatt. The rate will be reviewed by the Council on an annual basis.

Those who already are generating solar energy are being "grandfathered" into the program until 2025. The plan is based on the rate those individuals were told they would be paying when the solar program began. Former Altamont mayor Larry Taylor serves as the city's representative on the Illinois Municipal Electric Association Board.

The Illinois EPA's Office of Energy awarded Effingham County Housing Authority a grant of $464,730 for rehabilitation of public housing in Altamont. The City's solar energy initiative and Altamont owning its own utility company were factors in the Housing Authority receiving the grant.

Also this week, the Altamont council raised its video gaming terminal fees from $25 up to $250. An exception was establishments with a Club liquor license, who will now pay $100. The fees are similar to those being paid in neighboring communities.

The Council also declared the property at 301 South Edwards as dangerous and unsafe, allowing the City to take action to get the property cleaned up. A large house on the property was destroyed by fire over the winter.

Council members also heard from Spencer Pryor of Town and Country Subdivision, who has concerns over the high rates of speed he witnesses when out walking. Pryor said his subdivision is outside the city limits, but the new South Point Subdivision will be within the limits. He is hopeful law enforcement can get speeds lowered now to help current residents in that area as well as those who will live in the new subdivision once it is developed.