Earlier this Summer, the Sierra Club’s #ReadyFor100 campaign teamed up with Renewable Cities, ICLEI USA, and the San Francisco Department of the Environment to convene the first ever meeting of North American municipalities looking at transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy. Representatives from twenty cities and towns participated, from San Diego, San Francisco, and Vancouver in the West to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Cleveland across the heartland. A full report on the outcomes of the North American Dialogue: 100% Renewable Energy in Cities is now available online.
With help from our sponsors, the California Clean Energy Fund and SunPower, the event drew mayors, city councillors, supervisors, energy managers, engineers, planners, sustainability directors, economic development officers, private industry, and NGOs to talk about the inevitable and urgent transition to 100 percent renewable energy.
Participants discovered the advantages of renewable energy and busted a few myths along the way:
- Good business and a commitment to fight climate change are not at odds.
- 100% renewable energy is not only possible, but can improve the livability of communities and grow local economies.
- Participants also realized they are not alone; cities have each other, the private sector, researchers, NGOs, and 100% renewable energy networks and campaigns to draw support from.
Clean energy advocates can keep up the momentum by joining Sierra Club's #Readyfor100 campaign, and cities can get technical support with their clean energy transition through ICLEI's 100% Renewable Energy Network.
