Shane Levy, Sierra Club - shane.levy@sierraclub.org
LARGO, Fla. - On Tuesday, the Largo City Commission approved the city’s commitment to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy. Largo now represents the fourth Florida city and 75th in the United States to establish a goal to transition entirely to clean, renewable energy.
The city’s commitment to switch to 100 percent clean energy comes as an addition to and approval of the Largo Environmental Action Plan (LEAP), which “sets the direction for collaborative and sustainable operations” across the City of Largo. The plan includes 35 indicators to guide sustainability efforts across the City of Largo focusing on three main areas: infrastructure, workforce, and natural resources.
“I am proud to support our vision of being the community of choice in Tampa Bay through a transition to 100 percent renewable energy. This will lower electricity costs and provide our residents, businesses and visitors with less pollution and more economic and job opportunities,” says Laura Thomas, Sustainability Coordinator for Largo. “This commitment will assist us in improving local air and water quality and protect public health, particularly for the most vulnerable across our community.”
“I am extremely happy to see that Largo is willing to take this step to help in what hopefully, one day, be a worldwide conservation effort,” said Largo City Commissioner Jamie Robinson. “The process will be a journey, but I can't wait to start to see the implementation of this plan both for the City of Largo and the community.
As part of Largo’s commitment to move entirely to clean and renewable energy community-wide, the city also committed to establish a specific date to achieve the goal as part of the next update of the Largo Environmental Action Plan in 2021. In addition, the City of Largo adopted a goal to power all municipal operations with at least 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.
“Largo has shown great leadership to integrate 100% renewable energy goals in their new Environmental Action Plan (LEAP). Implementing renewable energy and energy efficiencies saves money, reduces pollution, and creates local jobs,” said Bryan Beckman, Leader of the Sierra Club Largo Ready for 100 campaign. “We look forward to working with city officials and our local partners to make this commitment a reality and to ensure that Largo residents and businesses receive the greatest benefits through this clean energy transition.”
Other Florida cities that have also committed to 100 percent clean energy include St. Petersburg, Orlando, and Sarasota. Largo is the second city in Duke Energy’s service territory to commit to 100 percent clean energy.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.