Residents of Abita Springs, Louisiana, take pride in its beauty—the historic downtown, a town hall that dates back to 1890, and the surrounding natural environment, which they hope to preserve along with the small town's atmospheric charm.

So when Margie Vicknair-Pray, the conservation projects coordinator for the Sierra Club's Delta Chapter, told the Abita Springs mayor, Greg Lemons, about the Club's Ready for 100 campaign, he was enthusiastic. At a town council meeting on January 24, Lemons announced the city's goal to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035, adding Abita Springs to a list of at least 23 other cities across the United States that have made similar commitments.

Louisiana ranks highest in the nation in per-capita energy consumption. But only 4 percent of its electricity comes from renewable sources, which makes tiny Abita Springs, population 2,900, a leader in the state. 

Lemons believes that the community will support the plan because renewable energy makes sense economically. The local utility, Cleco, is studying options like a solar farm next to a nearby airport. The historic town hall and other public buildings may soon sport solar panels.

"We can start small," Lemons says, "and continue to grow."

This article appeared in the May/June 2017 edition with the headline "Abita Springs Takes the Lead."