Hillary Larson, Colorado Sierra Club: hillary.larson@sierraclub.org, (303) 454-3361
PUEBLO, Colo. – The Pueblo City Council on Monday approved a resolution committing the city to transition entirely to clean, renewable energy by 2035. Pueblo represents the third city in Colorado and 22nd city in the nation commit to 100% clean, renewable energy.
In response to Monday’s vote, community leaders from Pueblo and across Colorado issued the following statements:
“Congratulations to Sierra Club members, supporters, and the people of Pueblo for this forward-looking commitment. Pueblo’s action raises the bar for Colorado and America, and will help other communities to transition to 100% clean and renewable energy,” said Jim Alexee, Director of the Colorado Sierra Club. “We are growing a powerful movement across Colorado. Together with public leaders, business leaders, and local communities, we will transition from dirty fuels, create jobs, lower electricity bills and conserve Colorado for future generations.”
"By committing to transition to 100% clean and renewable energy, Pueblo will set a powerful example for other cities in Colorado to join us in making clean energy a priority. Our hometown deserves more opportunities in the growing clean energy sector. This commitment will provide long-lasting benefits to our hometown by creating more jobs and energy security, cleaner air, and equitable access to affordable energy. No one should have to choose between feeding their family or keeping the lights on and our commitment to 100% clean energy will provide important relief to families throughout Pueblo,” said Pueblo City Councilman Larry Atencio.
"This is a great day for the citizens of Pueblo and for the city of Pueblo. This is a bold and progressive move in the right direction, one the faith community supports because of the imperative we have to care for and be good stewards of our land, water, the environment and all God's creation. This resolution will put us on a trajectory for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable energy future,” said Pastor Kevin Olsen of the First Congregational Church.
“As a business owner, community organizer and Pueblo native, it is more important now than ever to act on the many issues facing the Southern Colorado community. We live in one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged municipalities in the state, yet we pay one of the highest electric rates in the nation,” said Rebecca Vigil with Pueblo’s Energy Future. “Profit-driven out-of-state utilities do not have the best interest of our community at heart. Pueblo's Energy Future can bring the community together while working on three interrelated issues: energy justice, business competitiveness, and clean energy. Together, we can be a catalyst to change.”
"The high cost of energy is one of the leading reasons for homelessness in Pueblo. High electricity bills make it difficult for families to stay in their homes and almost impossible for families to secure housing. It's wrong that today the elderly, the disabled, and the poor in our community often have to make choices between paying for food, medication, and electricity," said Anne Stattelman, Executive Director of Posada. "By transitioning to 100% renewable energy, we can safeguard our community from the high cost of electricity while creating more jobs and security for people throughout Pueblo."
“Many of my friends and family are among the more than 7,000 households and businesses in Pueblo that have had their electricity shut off in recent years due to the rising cost of electricity,” said Frank Cordova, a local Pueblo Sierra Club volunteer. “People have lost their homes or have gone without food or medicine because of the fees required to get it turned back on. We have the solutions to this problem as the cost of cleaner and renewable energy sources – such as solar and wind – keeps declining. There are plenty of opportunities for innovation and good paying jobs in renewable energy from plentiful sources like the sun. Through today's action, Pueblo is setting an example for other cities and regions by committing to produce 100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2035.”
BACKGROUND:
For more than five years, a coalition of groups in Pueblo has been organizing to safeguard local residents from the high cost of energy in the community, while expanding access to affordable renewable energy.
Pueblo is home to some of the highest electricity rates in Colorado and the nation due to Black Hills Energy’s decisions to construct costly new gas-fired power plants. On account of Black Hills Energy’s to build costly new gas power plants, electricity rates have increased annually in recent years and over 7,000 Pueblo residents have had their electricity shut off due to the high cost of energy. BHE also imposes an unforgiving re-connection fee for local residents that could range up to $800 after all costs are accounted for.