From civil rights to marriage equality, cities have long held a tradition of raising ambition and setting the course to advance bold solutions for national change. Today, as climate change jeopardizes our coastlines and water supplies, and as fossil fuels pollute our air, making people sick, cities are forging ahead to build a new energy system that is more responsive to the needs and demands of local residents.
From small towns like Hanover, New Hampshire, to bustling metropolises like Los Angeles, people across the country want to raise their kids in communities free from toxic pollution, create new jobs and economic opportunity, and pay less for basic services like electricity. Today, cities and local leaders are turning to 100 percent clean and renewable energy to reap the social, health, and economic benefits that this transition presents.
Twenty-five cities in the United States, including San Diego and Salt Lake City, have committed to getting 100 percent of their electricity from clean and renewable sources. The benefits of this transition are clear. Wind and solar are affordable and reliable. The price of solar has fallen 80 percent in recent years, and the price for wind power has fallen 60 percent. Clean energy is now cheaper than coal and gas in many parts of the country. The City of Georgetown, Texas, in the heart of oil country, recently moved entirely to renewable energy because wind and solar energy made good financial sense. City leaders in Georgetown locked in long-term, affordable rates with clean energy that protect their community from the price volatility of fossil fuels.
Good-paying, family-sustaining clean energy careers are also on the rise. Businesses and investors see the opportunity of 100 percent renewable energy as well. Last week, Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest beer maker, announced plans to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. Nearly 90 companies across the world have made a similar commitment, with many citing the financial savings and economic benefits to corporate bottom lines.
In spite of the Trump administration’s regressive policies, a transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy is underway and gaining momentum. Renewables accounted for nearly 60 percent of all new electric generating capacity in 2016. The states of New York, Massachusetts, and California are considering setting 100 percent renewable energy goals, and Hawaii has already set the target.
Recent commitments from the cities of Madison, Wisconsin, and Abita Springs, Louisiana, serve to illustrate how bipartisan, locally driven-solutions are lowering energy costs and creating jobs, while demonstrating support for renewable energy across political party lines and geography.
In Madison, more than 70 percent of voters cast ballots supporting Hillary Clinton. In St. Tammany Parish, where Abita Springs is located, 75 percent of voters supported Donald Trump. Yet both Madison and Abita Springs last month committed to transitioning to 100 percent clean energy.
Local leadership is driven by the values and vision of individuals, families, and communities across the United States. In the face of an administration that threatens to undo much of the progress that has been made on protecting clean air and combatting climate disruption, leadership from mayors and other civic leaders is more critical than ever. It’s time to build a more equitable energy system powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
