City Council passes resolution formally establishing goal to transition to 100% clean energy
In a packed room on May 22, the City Council of Norman, Oklahoma, voted to commit to 100% clean energy.
This is a landmark moment: With a population of 120,000, Norman is the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the first city in the state to commit to 100% renewable energy as part of the Sierra Club's Ready For 100 campaign. The Norman City Council adopted a resolution to use 100% renewable energy for electricity by 2035 and for all energy sectors by 2050.
The resolution commanded strong support from across the City Council. "My family and I are so pleased that Norman is the first city in Oklahoma to commit to moving towards 100% renewable energy," said Councilwoman Breea Clark. "The environmental impacts, job opportunities, and economic benefits of going renewable are clear and I am hopeful other communities will follow Norman's example and make the same commitment."
Councilman Bill Hickman agreed, stating, "We need a vision for our future, which I (and my fellow council members) am proud to declare includes renewable energy. By setting this goal, we are guiding our community on a path that will protect our environment and stimulate economic development."
The passage of this resolution demonstrates that Norman residents want a transition to renewable energy sources. Citizens expressed excitement about a variety of potential benefits 100% clean energy may yield for the community. According to education professional Sarah Chan, "RF100 is a win for the schools be they private or public. The ability to install solar panels and/or wind turbines that will offset the cost of electricity and potentially generate profit for the school is something we desperately need in Norman, Oklahoma. It makes complete economic sense to make this opportunity available to communities."
"As a clergy person and a Pastor projects like Ready for 100 are exciting to me because they offer us a concrete and tangible way to take seriously our call from scripture (for instance Leviticus 26:3-4, Numbers 35:33-34) as people of faith to be good stewards of God's creation. First Presbyterian Church, as an officially certified PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation, is concerned that we do what we can in our church, our homes, and our community to be stewards and care-givers for all of creation. Ready for 100 does this in its aims to move toward renewable energy for all of the Norman community," added Rev. Jessica Dixon.
Oklahoma has been run and controlled by oil and gas interests for decades. However, the reality on the ground is that renewable energy is not only now a reality in Oklahoma, it is becoming an economic giant and improving Oklahoma's environment for generations to come," said Johnson Bridgewater, Director of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club. "Oklahoma is now second in the nation in wind energy production, and our state is positioned to become a national leader in solar energy too if cities like Norman, Oklahoma make the right choice for our future and back commitments like Ready for 100. We remain confident and hopeful that a new generation of Oklahomans will vote for a next generation for our children." Oklahoma is also the home state of EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt.
The vote was the culmination of almost a year of meetings, coalition building, public engagement, and events. Norman joins 68 other cities across the country that have adopted similar resolutions.
