This article comes from the Sierra Club and is authored by Kass Rohrbach, the Deputy Director of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign. Read the article in full here. Just three months ago, 1 in 5 people in the United States lived in a place that had committed to moving away from fossil fuels entirely and…
Businesses and advocacy groups call for 100% clean energy in Arizona by 2045
More than two dozen groups representing consumers, business, environmental advocacy, public health, tribal community, and others submitted a joint proposal for a strong clean energy plan to utility regulators at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). The commission are holding an energy rules stakeholder meeting in Phoenix today. The groups are urging the ACC to increase…
It’s a step backward for clean energy in Ohio
Ohio Senate and House concurred on HB 6 in a 51 – 38 vote today, which means a new energy tax on Ohio electric customers and a step back for clean energy in the state. The controversial nuclear and coal bailout legislation also cuts energy efficiency and renewable energy standards. HB 6 increases customer bills…
Another Wisconsin city commits to 100% clean energy
The La Crosse City Council in Wisconsin has unanimously passed a resolution establishing a goal of 100% clean, renewable energy across the city by 2050. La Crosse joins Eau Claire, Madison, Middleton, and Monona as the fifth Wisconsin city to adopt this goal. The city will also aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition,…
The benefits of retiring coal-burning plants
America’s march away from coal is continuing with recent numbers from Energy Information Administration (EIA) showing that in April, for the first time ever, renewable energy production (hydro included) surpassed coal-based electricity production in the United States. EIA found that U.S. coal generation fell to a 47-year low in the spring and S&P Global Market Intelligence…
Reading, Pennsylvania sets 100% clean energy goal
The Reading City Council in Pennsylvania has unanimously voted to adopt a resolution establishing a goal of powering the entire community with 100% renewable energy by 2050. With this resolution, the City of Reading is now committed to transitioning “municipal-owned facilities and equipment to clean, renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% clean, renewable energy for…
Minnesota school district makes 100% renewable electricity goal
This week, Minnesota’s District 197 School Board passed a resolution establishing the goal of transitioning the school district to 100% clean electricity by 2020. According to the Sierra Club, the district has made great strides toward 100% clean electricity and this resolution formalizes the district’s commitment. This effort was led by district leaders, students from…
Pennsylvania’s State College commits to 100% renewable energy
The State College Borough Council, a university town in Pennsylvania, voted unanimously this week to adopt a resolution establishing a goal of 100% renewable energy no later than 2050. With this resolution, the Borough of State College is now committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and clean energy “as quickly as feasible” and…
Colorado town commits to 100% renewable electricity by 2035
The Frisco Town Council of Colorado has unanimously voted to approve a resolution committing the community to shift away from fossil fuels and transition to 100% clean, renewable electricity by 2035. With the support of engaged citizens, the Town of Frisco is following through on its commitment to the High Country Conservation Center’s Climate Action Plan by…
Washington’s 100% clean electricity bill becomes law
Senate Bill 5116 was officially signed into law in Washington by Governor Jay Inslee this week, after passing the state legislature earlier this month. This bill cuts out coal power by 2025 and requires an equitable transition to 100% clean electricity for the entire state by 2045. Washington is the fifth state to establish a 100%…
Washington State commits to 100% clean electricity
The Washington State legislature officially passed Senate Bill 5116, a bill that mandates an equitable transition to 100% clean electricity generation for the entire state by 2045. First introduced in January, the bill passed the state House last week and now awaits to be signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee. Washington will become the…
Missoula is first city in Montana to adopt 100% renewables goal
The Missoula City Council has unanimously voted to adopt a resolution that moves the city’s electricity to 100% clean, renewable sources by 2030. Missoula becomes the first city in Montana, a state whose energy mix is 49% from coal, to adopt the goal. Last week, Missoula County adopted the same 100% renewable commitment for the…
Boise is first city in Idaho to commit to 100% renewables
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.…
Two more Pennsylvania Townships commit to 100% renewables
Earlier this month, the Schuylkill Township Board of Supervisors in Pennsylvania have unanimously approved a resolution to transition the township to 100% renewable energy. By taking this action, Schuylkill becomes the seventh Chester county, and the 111th U.S. municipality to establish this goal, according to the Sierra Club. Days after Schuylkill’s commitment, Whitemarsh Township also…
New Mexico commits to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045
The New Mexico legislature has passed the Energy Transition Act (SB 489), a bill that will make electricity generation 100% carbon-free by 2045 from the state’s investor-owned utilities. The bill, first introduced in February, passed the state Senate last week. The House of Representatives passed the bill 43-22. Pending Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signature on this legislation, New Mexico…
Minnesota sets ambitious goal of 100% clean energy by 2050
Minnesota Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan announced their “One Minnesota Path to Clean Energy,” calling for legislative action on climate by transitioning to clean energy in the way we generate electricity. According to the Sierra Club, the Walz administration outlined a set of policy proposals that build upon Minnesota’s success reducing its reliance on…
Another Pennsylvania township commits to 100% clean energy
This week, Radnor Township Commissioners voted 6-1 to pass a “Ready for 100” resolution to transition to 100% clean energy by 2050. Radnor residents expressed their gratitude for the Commissioners’ leadership and forward-thinking, according to the Sierra Club. The resolution calls for the development of an energy transition plan to be prepared for review by April 22,…
Celebrating 100 cities committing to 100% renewables
Skeptics said it was impossible. “We heard every version of ‘no,’ ‘can’t,’ ‘won’t,’ and ‘shouldn’t.’ We were laughed out of rooms,” shared Sierra Club’s Jodie Van Horn in an article called, 100 Cities Agree: 100% Clean Energy For All. Van Horn says it’s been three years since Ready For 100 launched, a Sierra Club initiative…
Florida’s capital commits to 100% renewables
City of Tallahassee has set a goal to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy across the community by 2050, further demonstrating the Sunshine State’s leadership in moving toward renewables. The Tallahassee City Commission unanimously approved a resolution establishing a goal of powering municipal operations entirely with renewable sources (such as wind and solar) by 2035, and community-wide…
Louisiana’s Cleco Power plans for up to 1 GW of wind power
Cleco Power released its proposed Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which confirms that reducing the operation of the company’s oldest and dirtiest coal-burning power plant and adding up to 1,400 MW of clean energy will save its electricity customers millions — while reducing air and water pollution throughout the state. In Louisiana, regulated utilities, like Cleco,…