The Town of Hanover, New Hampshire has voted to establish a goal of transitioning to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050. The article approved at a town meeting earlier this week sets a community-wide goal of transitioning to 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and a 2050 goal of transitioning heating and transportation to run on clean, renewable sources of energy.
Hanover is the 29th city in the U.S. to commit to 100% renewables and the first in New Hampshire to establish this goal.
The vote makes Hanover the 29th city in the country to commit fully to renewables and the first in New Hampshire to establish this goal. The vote comes after the Sustainable Hanover Town Committee in December endorsed a transition to 100% renewable energy in Hanover for electricity, heat, and transportation by 2050.
“As Town Manager for the Town of Hanover, I am overjoyed that the Town Meeting voted unanimously to support a goal of 100% renewable energy. We look forward to working with Sierra Club and Sustainable Hanover to achieve this goal,” said Hanover Town Manager Julia Griffin.
Hanover’s town votes has long been a form of direct democracy across New England. Unlike the other 28 cities and towns that have committed to clean energy, Hanover represents the first municipality in the U.S. to have this goal voted on and approved by the residents of that community.
In 2014, Hanover was named the EPA’s first Green Power Community in New Hampshire. The town is currently at 22% renewable electricity through partnerships with Dartmouth College and other businesses and institutions and town residents.
”This is a great day for Hanover. I am so proud to be a resident of Hanover — the first town in New Hampshire to make a commitment to 100% renewable energy and the first municipality in the country to have done it by a vote of its citizenry,” said Judith Colla, a member of the Sierra Club Upper Valley’s Executive Committee. “I look forward to supporting next steps here in Hanover and helping to spread this campaign to our neighbors throughout the Upper Valley.”
The Town of Southampton, New York also established a goal to transition to 100% renewable energy this week.
Other cities to commit to 100% clean and renewable energy include major metropolises like San Diego and Atlanta, along with small towns including Abita Springs, Louisiana, and Moab, Utah. Burlington, Vermont is the first city in the U.S. to run entirely on clean, renewable energy.
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