BOISE, Idaho -- Today, the Sierra Club released a new report showcasing 10 U.S. cities that have made ambitious commitments to be powered with 100 percent clean, renewable energy like wind and solar.
This is the second annual case studies report from Ready For 100, a Sierra Club campaign launched in 2016 working in cities across the United States -- including Boise -- to accelerate a just and equitable transition to 100 percent clean energy.
47 U.S. cities have now committed to transition to 100 percent clean energy, including big cities like Atlanta and small towns such as Abita Springs, Louisiana. At least five U.S. cities have already achieved 100 percent clean energy and are powered today with entirely renewable sources.
“The time for 100 percent clean energy has come and cities are leading the way,” said Jodie Van Horn, Director of the Sierra Club’s Ready For 100 campaign. “Local leaders know first-hand the harmful effects that pollution and the high cost of dirty energy has on people and families. That’s why nearly 50 communities, from big cities to small towns, have stepped up to break away from dirty fuels and committed to go to 100 percent clean, renewable energy.”
Among the cities highlighted in today’s report are Atlanta, Georgia, the largest city in the south to commit to clean energy; Hanover, New Hampshire, the first city to have committed to 100 percent clean energy by popular vote; and Pueblo, Colorado, where high energy costs from gas power sparked a movement for clean energy.
This report provides an example for city leaders from Boise and other cities of how they can both set the vision and do the work to power their cities with 100 percent clean, renewable energy. The City of Boise is going into 2018 with their Renewable Energy Strategy, a process to define ways the city can promote renewable energy and define a percentage clean energy goal for citywide electricity, the Idaho Chapter Sierra Club is asking that work is guided by a 100% clean, renewable energy vision.
Boise is doing a tremendous amount of effective work around energy issues. Including the 100% goal would anchor this process by meeting the national standard for sustainability planning and defining where we ultimately need to end up to build a safer climate and affordable energy future for all.
The movement for 100 percent clean energy continues to grow across the country. In June, the U.S. Conference of Mayors approved a historic resolution that establishes support from the nation’s mayors for the goal of moving to 100 percent clean and renewable energy in cities nationwide. Multnomah County, Oregon, also recently became the first county in the United States to commit to transition entirely to renewable energy, and since then Orange County, North Carolina followed suit.
“Boise is already doing the work to run our city with cleaner, more efficient energy. With a commitment to 100% clean and renewable energy, Boise would be an obvious candidate for next year's report and emerge as a regional leader,” said Casey Mattoon, Conservation Program Manager at the Idaho Chapter Sierra Club. “Thousands of Boise community members, faith leaders, nonprofits and business are excited about 100% clean energy and are asking city leaders to make sure they set the goal at 100% for a safer, more affordable, and cleaner future.”
Ready about the Ready for 100 Campaign in Boise: http://sierraclub.org/idaho/boise-ready-for-100
View the report here: sc.org/10-case-studies