Naperville is soliciting bids from potential clean energy vendors as it continues to negotiate a new energy contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency.

The request for proposals (RFP)comes about a month after the council voted to allow city staff to negotiate with IMEA on a number of key contract points, many of which revolve around lowering Naperville’s carbon footprint. One of the provisions would allow the city to seek bids for non-fossil fuel energy options.

Naperville’s contract with its longtime power supplier IMEA expires in 2035, but the agency wants to extend its contract with the city and other municipalities until 2055. Critics say IMEA is too reliant on electricity produced by coal.

The current contract does not allow the city to procure energy from other sources, but IMEA members who sign a new 20-year agreement with the nonprofit joint action agency can utilize a Member Directed Resource (MDR) allocation to procure a percentage of their energy needs from a renewable or cleaner energy source, according to a city document on the RFP.

“If Naperville enters into the new contract with IMEA that begins in 2035, it is anticipated that the IMEA Board of Directors will consider including existing nuclear within the definition of MDR and would authorize Naperville to amend its existing contract so as to begin utilizing MDR as soon as January 1, 2026,” according to the document.

Should the city enter into a new contract with the agency, the RFP will allow the city to identify potential clean energy vendors to supplement energy from IMEA. Some of the eligible options include nuclear, wind, solar, hydro and geothermal energy sources.

As for capacity and delivery requirements, energy delivery must start no later than June 1, 2026. The city wants to pay only for capacity and energy delivered, among other conditions.

Proposals from potential clean energy vendors are due by Oct. 29.

“The objective of this solicitation is to secure a reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable energy supply that aligns with Naperville’s commitment to transitioning to clean energy,” the city document states.

It is currently unknown whether Naperville has received any bids. City spokesperson Linda LaCloche said the city does not share information during an open RFP process to ensure “bids, proposals and related preparatory materials remain confidential until the process concludes.”

At the Sept. 16 council meeting, Naperville’s electric utility director Brian Groth said IMEA is evaluating the city’s contract proposal.

“We provided some sample language to IMEA. They are still reviewing it,” Groth, who also serves as vice chairman of IMEA’s board of directors, said. “We expect them, over the next few weeks, to come back with their concepts, their ideas, their feedback on what we provided them, which was language based off the nine tenants approved by council on the 19th.”

As of Sept. 22, the city did not have an update on the status of its negotiations with IMEA, LaCloche said.

cstein@chicagotribune.com