The Boise City Council voted to adopt “Boise’s Energy Future,” a plan to move the city’s electricity to 100% renewable sources by 2035. After years of community advocacy, the Sierra Club’s Idaho Chapter and Ready for 100 Action campaign celebrate Boise becoming the first city in Idaho — and 115th nationwide — to adopt this goal.

Boise’s plan maps a course to 100% renewable electricity in the city, accounting for the financial costs and benefits.
The City’s plan also maps a course to 100% renewable electricity alongside financial costs and benefits. The plan accounts for energy efficiency measures and shows 47% of the city’s electricity demand could be provided by renewable energy sources already operating today.
The transition to 100% renewable electricity is estimated to result in $610 million total in benefits for Boise.
Boise’s commitment to renewables comes on the heels of Idaho Power’s announcement last week stating that it will move to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. The utility — the largest in the state — cited growing customer demand for clean energy as a driving force behind its decision.
The City of Boise developed the plan over the course of a year and with consultation by a stakeholder group consisting of community organizations, businesses, and local utilities. The resolution approving the plan can be found here.
“The City of Boise has initiated and led the growing conversation about 100% clean energy across Idaho,” said Zack Waterman, Director of the Sierra Club Idaho Chapter. “By listening to the concerns of residents, businesses, and local organizations, the City has shown that local leadership is really about making decisions with and for the entire community. Boiseans know that continued reliance on out-of-state fossil fuels harm our environmental and economic health. To address our collective future, City leaders brought stakeholders together, involved the community, and undertook a comprehensive planning process to chart a viable pathway to 100 percent clean electricity by 2035.”
Filed Under: News, Policy