Where cities take control of their energy choices, utilities face a stark choice: join or die.
On June 8, 2017, San Diego, Calif., became the 30th U.S. city committed to getting 100% of its power from renewable energy. Just six months later, on Nov. 29, Truckee, Calif., became the 50th city to make the pledge.
More 100% commitments are in the works. Over 150 Republican and Democratic Mayors have endorsed the objective. The United States Conference of Mayors in June approved a resolution reaffirming its support of the Paris Climate Agreement and of policies to grow renewables and cut emissions.
Recently, former President Barack Obama applauded the 45-plus Mayors who signed the just-released Chicago Climate Charterendorsing the Paris agreement. The pact called for specific policies and actions to reduce emissions, including using more renewables.
This growing momentum is driven by two key factors, according to Jodie Van Horn, Executive Director of Ready for 100, a division of the Sierra Club pushing 100% renewables. One is a widening range of cost-effective renewables options. The other is the threat of selling less power.
“I’m a right-wing Republican and I’m mayor in one of the reddest cities, in one of the reddest counties, in one of the reddest states,” Ross said. “But that doesn’t mean I believe everything President Trump believes.”
Note: Customer Choice Aggregation == CCA
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