First County in Florida Commits to 100 Percent Clean Energy
Pinellas County becomes first county in Florida to join clean energy movement across Sunshine State
Pinellas County, FL — The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners has unanimously passed a resolution committing the county to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy for the entire community by 2050 and for county operations by 2040. Pinellas is the first county in Florida to make this commitment. In Florida there are 11 cities that have made a similar commitment for city operations, four of which (Largo, St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor and Dunedin) are within Pinellas County, along with the neighboring city of Tampa.
By passing Resolution 21, Pinellas County has committed to transitioning 100 percent of all electricity consumed in county operations to clean energy by 2040, with at least 50 percent transitioned by 2030. The county has also committed to transitioning 100 percent of all electricity consumption countywide to clean energy by the year 2050.
The county will begin developing a plan immediately to achieve these goals. The resolution emphasizes inclusion and transparency in the planning process, which will establish interim milestones, budget estimates, equity metrics and financing mechanisms with community residents and stakeholders over the next two years.
"We need to quickly move forward. What we're doing here today isn't for us, it's for our kids and our grandchildren," said Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long.
Commissioner Dave Eggers stressed the importance in the passage of the resolution to "show empathy for those hardest hit by the transition to clean energy (i.e., coal miners) and ensure they are given consideration and help in the transition."
"We are so excited that Pinellas County has joined St. Petersburg, Largo, Dunedin and Safety Harbor to set clean energy goals. It shows tremendous leadership that will help reduce pollution and harmful emissions, save money and create jobs here in Pinellas. Thank you commissioners for taking this extremely important step," said Suncoast Sierra Club group chair Bryan Beckman.
Dave Sillman, a leader in the Suncoast group, said after the vote, "Striving for a transition to 100 percent renewable energy is not only a scientific and moral imperative, this undertaking is also a transition to lower-cost energy for all, massive public health improvements and cost savings, opportunities to address environmental racism and enhance national security, and one of the greatest drivers of economic growth and job and business creation in our lifetimes. Renewables have already won the economic case, and they just keep getting better and cheaper each year. Getting off of fossil fuels isn't just something we have to do, it's something we want to do."
Contact:
Brooke Alexander, Sierra Club Florida organizing manager, clean energy
brooke.alexander@sierraclub.org, (386) 689-4354