Sierra Club Position Statement on the Gainesville Charter Amendment:

The Sierra Club of Florida enthusiastically endorses a “Yes” vote on the City of Gainesville Charter Amendment referendum on the ballot this November. A Yes vote would dissolve the governor-appointed GRU Authority and return governance to the elected City Commission.

Dissolving the GRU Authority is a necessary first step toward reversing the implementation of several controversial bad decisions made by the GRU Authority. These include firing the Chief Sustainability Officer, ending net-metering which raises electric rates for new solar customers, cutting support for local small businesses, reducing ratepayer support for low-income households, and abandoning the process of the Integrated Resource Plan, an industry standard practice for utility resource planning. These highly unpopular decisions are both anti-equity and anti-environment in their impact. 

To ensure meaningful climate action and meet the City’s resolution to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, we must return control of GRU to the citizens of Gainesville who can prioritize clean, affordable, and equitable energy which reflects our community's commitment to sustainability. 

Voting Yes on the GRU referendum is a decisive move towards these goals.