The Borough of West Chester, Pa., on Wednesday became the 45th municipality in the U.S. and second in Pennsylvania to commit to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy, according to the Sierra Club. The borough council voted unanimously to establish a goal of moving West Chester to 100% renewable energy just a week after nearby Phoenixville, Pa., made a similar commitment.
The Sierra Club says West Chester’s resolution calls for the borough to power all electricity with clean, renewable energy by 2035 and all transportation and heating by 2050. The measure also commissions a council or contractor to create a more detailed transition plan by Earth Day 2019 that will ensure West Chester achieves its goal in an equitable way that boosts the local economy and delivers clean energy to all, the group adds.
“West Chester Borough has a long record of action to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and to prepare for the impacts of climate change, and now we are ready to do much more,” says West Chester Mayor Jordan C. Norley. “The actions we will take to conserve energy and transition to renewable energy will also bring a multitude of benefits to our residents, economy, and environment.”
“September gave us a glimpse of what the future will be like if climate change continues – and it doesn’t look good,” adds West Chester Borough Council President Diane LeBold. “West Chester’s commitment to a bold blueprint for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is just what is needed.”
“The people of West Chester have said loud and clear they want clean energy, because we care about our health, sustainable jobs, and our children’s future,” says Dianne Herrin, mayoral candidate and chair of the Borough’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, which initiated the resolution. “Here in West Chester, we are doing our part to shift the national tide toward a clean and livable future.”
Paula Kline, Sierra Club/Ready For 100 Chester County volunteer leader, says, “This vote puts West Chester on the right side of history.”
