About us
Our history
In early 2020, a small group of Oak Park residents gathered to advocate for a comprehensive plan to address our community's contribution to climate change.
Following the examples of municipalities like Ithaca, New York; Boulder, Colorado; Berkeley, California; and Ann Arbor, Michigan, OPCAN has worked to encourage the Village of Oak Park to develop policies to guide residents, businesses, and public organizations towards a resilient and sustainable community–away from climate-heating fossil fuel energy sources such as coal, methane gas, and petroleum oil and toward renewable ones.
OPCAN has successfully advocated for:
passage of the Midwest’s first municipal electrification ordinance requiring no gas hookups for new construction in the Village of Oak Park
developing Climate Ready Oak Park, a climate action plan with a goal of 60% reduction in greenhouse gasses by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050 as mandated by the 2015 Paris Accords
hiring the first Chief Sustainability Officer for the Village of Oak Park
hiring a dedicated sustainability grants writer for the Village of Oak Park
developing a communications plan to educate Oak Park residents about ways to electrify their homes and transportation
creating a fund to provide financial support for all residents to electrify their homes and transportation
Our mission
Oak Park Climate Action Network (OPCAN) is a volunteer group of Oak Park residents working to eliminate our community’s contribution to the global climate crisis through equitable policies and practices.
OPCAN advocates for timely implementation of the goals of Climate Ready Oak Park, the climate action plan adopted by the Village of Oak Park in 2022. We also advocate for more climate friendly policies with other local taxing bodies, residents, businesses, and organizations.
OPCAN members meet monthly to discuss goals and activities, with working groups meeting more frequently to focus on building electrification, budgeting and policy, and resident outreach.