Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Different cities, same goal

By Paul Dvorak | March 30, 2017

Greg Alverez / AWEA

The Greg Alverez

What could these cities possibly have in common? One is in Wisconsin, and one is in Louisiana. One is a college town of over 234,000 people, and the other is one-tenth of that size, barely cracking 2,300. Yet despite their differences, Madison, Wisc. and Abita Springs, La. made the same pledge recently: they committed to move to 100% renewable energy, showing wind power isn’t red or blue – it’s American.

This offers yet another example that no matter where Americans live or what political beliefs they hold, we all realize generating more of our electricity from renewables makes sense. So it’s no surprise 83% of Americans support growing wind power according to a recent Pew poll.

Here’s what people are saying about the news:

Madison and Abita Springs join a growing list of cities that want to move to 100 percent renewable energy.

  • As the mayor of a small town, I take seriously my responsibility to set the direction for our community. Transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy is a practical decision we’re making for our environment, our economy, and for what our constituents want in Abita Springs. Politics has nothing to do with it for me. Clean energy just makes good economic sense.
    –Abita Springs Mayor Greg Lemons
  • These goals will drive a clean energy economy that creates local jobs, provides affordable and sustainable electricity, and results in cleaner air and water. I am proud to be a part of this council that has made the historic commitment that will lead our community to a more sustainable future.
    –Madison Common Council Alder Zach Wood
  • Clean energy is putting America back to work and benefiting communities across the country. That’s why Madison, Wis., and Abita Springs, La., today join the ranks of 23 other cities and towns across the U.S. that are going all-in on clean, renewable energy.
    —Jodie Van Horn, director of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign

Madison and Abita Springs join a growing list of cities that want to move to 100 percent renewable energy. Four have already hit that goal: Aspen, Colo., Georgetown, Texas, Burlington, Vt., Columbia, Md., and Greensburg, Kan.

Because wind energy’s costs have fallen by two-thirds over the last seven years, it’s now the cheapest source of new electric generating capacity in parts of the country and cost-competitive in many more. That means it can help these cities meet their targets while saving money for families and businesses.

Check out this video of Greensburg, Kan. to learn more about why its residents decided to move toward a renewable future: https://goo.gl/Tezjj9


Filed Under: Policy
Tagged With: AWEA
 

About The Author

Paul Dvorak

Related Articles Read More >

Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia collaborate to support offshore wind development
Greenbacker Renewable Energy acquires 15.3-MW Maine wind project
ACE NY urges support of the New York Renewables Protection Act
University of Arizona to fully power campus with wind, solar & storage

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe