Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) — After more than three decades of service to the City of Springfield, Doug Brown, Chief Utility Engineer and Acting General Manager of City Water, Light & Power (CWLP), will retire on March 31, 2026. Brown has been a cornerstone of CWLP since 1994, leading the city-owned utility through major projects and strategic initiatives that have kept rates among the lowest in Illinois.
Brown’s tenure includes overseeing the construction of Dallman 4, implementing CWLP’s Integrated Resource Plan—which retired older coal units—and negotiating key contracts that saved millions for ratepayers. He also championed water infrastructure improvements and added long-term solar agreements to diversify Springfield’s energy portfolio.
“It has truly been an honor to serve the residents, businesses, and organizations of Springfield,” Brown said in a press release. “Our employees make a real difference every day, and I could not be more proud of them as I retire.”
Mayor Misty Buscher praised Brown’s leadership, saying, “Doug has put in a tremendous effort to position CWLP for the future by raising the bar in delivering Springfield the best in electric and water services.”
But Brown isn’t leaving the energy sector. On April 1, he will step into a new role as President and CEO of the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA), succeeding Kevin Gaden, who is retiring after 14 years. IMEA is a nonprofit joint action agency that provides wholesale power and energy services to 32 municipally owned utilities across Illinois.
“I’m honored to lead IMEA as we build the energy system of the future,” Brown said. “Having worked at a municipally owned utility, I know the value of local control and the benefits public power brings to communities.”
IMEA Board Chair Dan Cook called Brown “a tremendous asset,” citing his 31 years of experience and leadership in the electric utility industry. In his new role, Brown will also oversee the Illinois Public Energy Agency and the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association, continuing his commitment to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for Illinois communities.
