Climate Change – Realgy Energy Services

Virginia Case for Adding New Generation Today

September 9, 2025
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How to Reconcile So Many Different Messages

Over 10 years a consensus has been reached that recognized:

• The climate crisis will cause the Earth’s temperature to rise 2.5 degrees within the next decade.

• Fossil fuel usage is a primary contributor to climate change.

• Federal and States issued laws created incentives to curtail fossil fuel use.

• Solar and wind power, which COST LESS than fossil fuels, are permitted and are currently under construction.

And now, science, costs, and climate concerns are being dismissed and replaced instead by opinions.

Consider:

Virginia passed a law phasing out fossil fuels out by 2045. The state has already incurred billions in costs tied to climate change. New construction and proposed solar and wind power plants were forecasted to meet rising demand and nuclear power was encouraged.

To capture additional business from AI data centers, Virginia is forecasting even greater energy demand. Consider the impact of NVDIA’s chip production for next year was 9% of the total US energy demand for 2024; Read More.

Instead of complying with law, Virginia’s largest utility is asking permission to build 944 MWs of natural gas fired generators.

Regulators reviewing the request concluded:

The “cold snap” weather event used to justify construction was “unpersuasive”.
Power exports to neighboring states continued during the “cold snap”.
Load growth was within generation capabilities of existing power generation.
Economically, construction of natural gas generation would increase electric costs for customers.
No alternatives were offered.

Today’s politics are undoing more than a decade of scientific, economic, and environmental progress.

10 years from now, when these politicians are long gone, this decision (and those like it) will be costly and will be deemed wasteful and will bring us closer to environmental harm.

Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed Savings^TM, ManagedPrice^TM, ManagedGreen^TM Index, Fixed and PriceAssurance^TM.

Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Soon to be 12 with the inclusion of Highland Park newest recreation center West Ridge Center – New Community Recreation Facility Coming in 2026 | Park District of Highland Park

Additional Reading:

Virginia’s data center boom tests clean energy law | Canary Media

Michigan’s stride to clean energy?

January 18, 2022
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Michigan has over 10 utilities and each must submit to the MPSC their plan to reduce emissions.

Governor Whitmer will be issuing an executive order on Climate Solutions within the next months.

Consumers Energy is proposing to phase out all its coal plants by 2025, which is good. However, it further proposes to acquire and build new gas plants; less good.

DTE Energy will be filing their plan later in 2022.

Crafting energy policy is very delicate as it requires ramping up investment in alternatives while continuing to meet present energy needs.

Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed Savings^TM, ManagedPrice^TM, ManagedGreen^TM Index, Fixed and PriceAssurance^TM.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: What’s next for Michigan’s stride to clean energy? – Energy News Network

Natural gas surges 14% as cold snap ahead is expected to boost demand

January 13, 2022
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US natural gas futures surged 14% in early January 2022. This is on top of recent increases beginning in the fall of last year. In early October into November 2021 oil and natural gas prices surged.

Natural gas is a commodity purchased from suppliers (including utilities) at published prices. Typically, the price referenced is the NYMEX. All natural gas suppliers are impacted by the same cost increase. However, some suppliers such as utilities can delay the impact due to their regulatory price recovery. This can be understood when utilities do not share storage with their third-party suppliers. Natural gas in storage will not increase when the market price does. Those utilities can appear to have a lower price when in fact they just bought the gas during the summer and stored it. Michigan utilities operate like this; they do not provide their customer choosing a gas supplier with their share of storage volume. Therefore, the energy suppliers in Michigan cannot readily offer storage to their customer. Illinois utilities share their storage volumes equally between choice and tariff customers. Therefore, Illinois customer choice customers have nearly 20% of their winter gas purchased during the summer. Realgy calls this our Storage Program see Storage – Realgy Energy Services.

Natural gas pricing was not expected to rise significantly. However, Covid, weather, and consumer behaviors changed that forecast.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Currently we are in construction of our 8^th project with the park district of Highland Park.

Additional Information:

How Will the Natural Gas Shortage Impact Fuel Dealers and Homeowners? – OILMAN Magazine

Natural gas surges 14% as cold snap ahead is expected to boost demand (cnbc.com)

Europe’s Energy Crisis Worsens As Wind Stops Blowing

September 15, 2021
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Energy prices have skyrocketed throughout Europe. The reopening of EU economies increased gas demand and resulted in a natural gas shortage. On top of that, lower wind power generation from unexpectedly mild weather caused the normal output of 24 GW to be less than 1 GW over several days. Coal plants had to be restarted to create enough electricity. The record high prices and low supply are a large concern especially with winter approaching.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Europes-Energy-Crisis-Worsens-As-Wind-Stops-Blowing.html

With energy bill in limbo, Ill. braces for nuclear closure

September 9, 2021
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The shutdown of some of the USA’s largest coal plants in Illinois, Byron and Prairie State has been the subject of scrutiny. The discussion on the future of power plants surrounds a recently passed energy and climate bill.

Many supporting the legislation want the state to buckle down on ending fossil fuel usage by 2045. However, the bill didn’t include specifics on lessening emissions for electric generation until then. Amendments are underway regarding requirements of plants to reduce emissions by 2035 to transition toward the 2045 goal. Illinois’ Clean Jobs Coalition and Governor Pritzker support these revisions but, challenges lie in the finances and logistics.

Clean Jobs Illinois questions how to ensure jobs aren’t lost from closures and redirection into renewable energy positions. While the state has pledged to preserve jobs and decrease emissions, studies show phasing out locations would cause other plants to make up for lost production bringing about additional emissions. They also claim Illinois will not see renewable energy developments for years unless there is legislative action.

Advocates state we don’t have time to allow these plants to run for even 5 more years let alone the suggested 25 years. However, incentive funding from the Future Energy Jobs Act has already been depleted and new projects are down 90% compared to the last year. This bill needs to see both sides come to a compromise to reach our energy goals.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://www.eenews.net/articles/with-energy-bill-in-limbo-ill-braces-for-nuclear-closure/

Michigan Launches Inquest into Power Outages

August 26, 2021
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Last week’s Michigan storms left over 1 million customers without power. Many were in the dark for over a week. Damage assessment and restoration are a priority as is planning and preparation for these disasters. Residents want to see improvement in all areas and the MPSC states “… we have more work to do, and we have to do it faster.”

Concerns aren’t limited to the Midwest and are voiced across the country since the increase in frequent, intense storms are apparent. We can’t rely solely on historical data to prepare for the ever-changing weather. The MPSC is pushing utilities to be more transparent around their efforts while encouraging customers to discuss impacts of outages, especially those that are more at risk.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://thesuntimesnews.com/g/chelsea-mi/n/39406/state-launches-inquest-power-outages

Brutal Cold grips central United States

February 17, 2021
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Temperatures have dropped more than 40° below the average.

Power costs have soared from $4 / MWh to over $600 / MWh.

Most of the news we are seeing is coming from Texas for several reasons:

Well, it is really cold; well below freezing for nearly 5 days.
Texas is a power island. They have no connections outside of Texas so, other states cannot supply power for them.
Texas’ energy infrastructure is not built for freezing temperatures. This results in water main breaks, gas pipes freezing, and power equipment not operating properly.

Outside of Texas the Polar Vortex will have economic impact but, electricity and gas are generally staying on.

If your power or heat is interrupted, CALL your local utility.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/16/us/winter-storm-texas-power-outage-map.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

How Extreme Cold Turned Into a U.S. Energy Crisis

February 16, 2021
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Over the past several days, extraordinary cold weather in the US from a polar vortex caused record temperatures across the country. Electricity and heating fuel costs skyrocketed while energy demand hit record levels. Millions of customers dealt with blackouts for the first time in a decade. Gas lines seized, wind turbines froze, and oil wells shut in. Across the grid in Texas, all energy sources had problems with some reasons still unknown. Texas’s emergency state will allow for more resources to become available and ensure residences, medical facilities, and related consumers are the priority to receive fuel first. The energy market in Texas is one of the most competitive in the US and power providers have to be prepared for extreme events such as this one. If not, they are set up for failure. Texas and Washington policy makers may need to review their system and make some changes to ensure a similar crisis is prevented or handled better.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-15/how-extreme-cold-turned-into-a-u-s-energy-crisis-quicktake

One company’s grand plan to help suppliers club together to buy green energy

October 27, 2020
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What do long-term global or local businesses do when they see a problem? They solve it.

Climate change impacts lives today and is forecasted to accelerate its negative impact through increased storms, draught, fire, and hurricanes. Using the tools and abilities within their disposal, governments and businesses have responded to face this challenge.

Governments around the world agreed collectively to reduce emissions; see the Paris Agreement. The goal is for each country to reduce its emissions over 50 years.

Businesses are moving to reduce their carbon emissions by committing to renewable energy. A large company example is Walmart. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and Walmart committed to sustainable energy. Fast forward to 2020, that commitment has translated to reduced waste and 29% of its electricity coming from renewables. Walmart’s aim is to use its initiative to create an alliance of companies that commit to renewable energy regardless of size called the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance.

Seeing a problem and addressing it provides for opportunities. Walmart is reducing costs to operate its business while reducing waste and greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Win-Win-Win.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/23/walmart-wants-suppliers-to-buy-renewable-energy-collectively.html

Solarize Chicagoland group-buy program bears fruit even in rough times

July 30, 2020
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Environmental benefits and lower energy bills are a main draw for solar customers. Solarize Chicagoland’s participants reap those pros and then some. For those that find researching options and requirements to be laborious, this group-buy program might just gain your attention. They have support through each step of the solar installation process and their developer is accounted for. Windfree Solar was approved by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and partners. Plus, with more customers partaking, there’s an increase in savings and extra rebates through federal and state incentive programs. Helping the environment, increasing home value, decreasing monthly costs, and benefiting the community are valued aspects of the Solarize Chicagoland program.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://energynews.us/2020/07/29/midwest/solarize-chicagoland-group-buy-program-bears-fruit-even-in-rough-times/