Last Thursday, just days after Orlando, Fla., established a similar goal, Nevada City, Calif., joined the growing list of U.S. cities that are officially committed to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy.
Surrounded by city council members, key members of the community and partners, Nevada City Mayor Duane Strawser announced the city’s near-unanimous vote to ensure that the city’s electricity will come entirely from renewable sources by 2030 and that all energy sources would be renewable by 2050.
According to the Sierra Club, Nevada City is now the 41st city in the U.S. to establish a 100% renewable energy goal, which also comes on the heels of similar pledges from other mountain communities, including South Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Park City, Utah.
“Nevada City’s commitment for 100 percent renewable energy is driven by our community,” said Mayor Strawser. “The passion for the natural environment and our responsibility to take care of it is part of the fabric of what makes Nevada City a very special place to live. I challenge other communities across the nation to join us in this goal.”
The Sierra Club says Nevada City’s resolution is grounded in a burning reality as the growing impacts of climate change threaten the mountain community. Fourteen of the 15 hottest years on record globally have occurred since the beginning of this century, and 2017 is predicted to be the second warmest on record.
“If this summer is any indicator of what climate change can mean for the future of our community, it is time to do all we can to avoid its impacts,” said Don Rivenes with the Nevada County Climate Change Coalition. “Over the last three years and particularly the last few months, we have seen citizens from across our community come together to tackle climate change by helping our city officials take bold action. We’re thrilled to see Nevada City commit to 100 percent renewable energy today.”
Nevada City has an existing Energy Action Plan (EAP) with a goal of a 28% reduction in electricity use by 2020. The resolution will lead the way toward updating the EAP to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050.
“The Sierra Nevada Alliance (SNA) is proud to work with cities like Nevada City,” said Jenny Hatch, SNA’s executive director. “Nevada City recognizes the many impacts on the local economy and environment that climate change will bring. At Sierra Nevada Alliance, we bring together the passion to fight climate change with the passion to protect our mountain communities to make an unstoppable force for change. That’s why it is no surprise that mountain cities are leading the way on renewable electricity.”
