The Sierra Club has released a new report showcasing 10 U.S. cities that have made ambitious commitments to be powered by 100% renewable energy. This report is the first from Ready for 100, a new Sierra Club campaign launched this year challenging 100 cities in the U.S. to move away from fossil fuels and commit to 100% clean energy.
According to the organization, 16 cities, including major ones like San Diego, have already made such commitments, and a handful have already achieved 100% clean energy and are powered today with entirely renewable sources.
“Cities, long the hotbed of innovation, the drivers of change, and the incubators of solutions to the world’s biggest challenges, are ready for 100 percent clean energy,” says Jodie Van Horn, director of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign. “Other city leaders should take note from these examples and take the pledge to power their cities by 100 percent clean energy.”
Among the cities highlighted in the Sierra Club’s report is San Francisco, the site of the first-ever North American Renewable Cities Dialogue. In mid-July, staff and public officials from more than 20 cities across the U.S. participated in this dialogue to discuss opportunities, challenges and tools available to help them move to 100% renewable energy across all energy sectors. Also featured in the report are Aspen, Colo., the site of the kickoff of the Sierra Club’s #Readyfor100 National Tour, and San Diego, which the Sierra Club says is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. and the largest city to commit to clean energy.
“San Diego is known around the world for our beautiful environment, so it’s only fitting that we help set the standard for how to protect it. We’re moving in a big way toward renewable energy use because it fuels green jobs and will improve the quality of life for our residents,” says San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. “It’s about handing down to our children a city that is cleaner than it was when we received it.”
“Not only are cities ready for clean energy – it’s ready for them,” adds Van Horn. “Clean energy keeps money in local government coffers, creates local jobs, saves people money, cuts pollution and saves lives. Other cities would be wise to mirror these commitments coast to coast.”
In addition to providing case studies on San Francisco, San Diego and Aspen, the report also covers San Jose, Calif.; Burlington, Vt.; East Hampton, N.Y.; Georgetown, Texas; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Greensburg, Kan.; and Rochester, Minn. The full report is available here.
