10 Cities Leading the Way to 100% Clean Energy

The Sierra Club released a new report this week showcasing 10 U.S. cities that have made ambitious commitments to be powered by 100 percent clean, renewable energy. This report is the first from Ready for 100, a new Sierra Club campaign launched in 2016 challenging 100 cities in the U.S. to move away from dirty, outdated fossil fuels, step up and commit to 100 percent clean energy. Sixteen cities, including major cities like San Diego, have already made such commitments and a handful have already achieved 100 percent clean energy and are powered today with entirely renewable sources.

“Cities, long the hotbed of innovation, the drivers of change and the incubators of solutions to the world’s biggest challenges, are ready for 100 percent clean energy,” Jodie Van Horn, director of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign, said. “Other city leaders should take note from these examples and take the pledge to power their cities by 100 percent clean energy.”

Among the cities highlighted in the report is San Francisco, the site of the first-ever North American Renewable Cities Dialogue. In mid-July this year, staff and public officials from more than 20 cities across the U.S. participated in this dialogue to discuss opportunities, challenges and tools available to help them move to 100 percent renewable energy across all energy sectors. Also featured are Aspen, Colorado, the site of the kickoff of the Sierra Club’s #Readyfor100 National Tour and San Diego, the eighth-largest city in the country and the largest city to commit to clean energy.

“San Diego is known around the world for our beautiful environment, so it’s only fitting that we help set the standard for how to protect it. We’re moving in a big way toward renewable energy use because it fuels green jobs and will improve the quality of life for our residents,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “It’s about handing down to our children a city that is cleaner than it was when we received it.”

“Not only are cities ready for clean energy—it’s ready for them. Clean energy keeps money in local government coffers, creates local jobs, saves people money, cuts pollution, and saves lives,” added Van Horn. “Other cities would be wise to mirror these commitments coast to coast.”