(Photo: Cincinnati’s skyline. Credit: Cathy, Flickr Creative Commons)
Cincinnati, Ohio became the 100th city in the United States to commit to 100% renewable energy on December 5, when the City Council approved a resolution setting that target for 2025. A day later, Dunedin, Florida’s City Commission did the same thing, bringing the total to 101.
Across the country, cities, towns, and several states have pledged to transition to renewables, according to the Sierra Club.
Dunedin joined five other cities in Florida to establish the renewables goal. In addition, 25 businesses in the coastal city known for its beaches signed a letter of support for the goal.
“We recognize the importance of healthy people, a safe climate, and stable energy prices to our state’s economy,” they wrote. “Local communities have long been the bedrock of innovation in the United States. Today, our community has the opportunity to lead as we move away from fossil fuels toward clean energy, green jobs and lower electricity rates.”
The Sierra Club is tracking resolutions, proclamations, climate action plans, and energy plans for the Ready for 100 Campaign. Cincinnati is the second city in Ohio to make the leap after Cleveland. The latter announced plans in September. Cincinnati is also one of several US cities served by Duke Energy to make the commitment.
Cincinnati’s community-wide commitment builds upon its Green Cincinnati Plan, which commits the city to powering its municipal operations with 100% renewable energy and advances other aggressive climate measures aimed at creating an equitable energy system, the Sierra Club said in an announcement.
“It has become clear that cities will lead the global effort to fight climate change, and Cincinnati is on the front lines,” said Mayor John Cranley. “I am encouraged by the changes we are making, but we have a lot of work left to do.”
After Cleveland made their commitment, Dan Gearino of Inside Climate News wrote that transitioning to renewable energy might be easier said than done in the state.
“Ohio’s state government has had an on again, off again relationship with renewable energy,” he wrote. “The state took a big step forward on clean energy with a 2008 law that set requirements for renewable energy and energy efficiency, but the state has taken steps backwards since then with a weakening of the clean-energy standards and new restrictions on where wind turbines can be placed.”
Currently the Sierra Club lists six US cities already powered entirely by renewables: Aspen, Colorado; Burlington, Vermont; Georgetown, Texas; Greensburg, Kansas; Kodiak Island, Alaska; and Rock Port, Missouri.