Spokane Becomes 4th Local Government in WA to Set 100% Renewable Energy Goal
Media Contacts
Environment Washington
Spokane, WA – Last night, the Spokane City Council set a goal of 100% renewable energy for the city. Following is the statement of Environment Washington Director Bruce Speight:
“Environment Washington applauds the Spokane City Council for their leadership on clean energy by setting a goal of 100% renewable energy. Every day, we see more evidence that an economy powered by renewable energy is within our reach. But, to get there, we need local, state and federal leadership. The City of Spokane, with this action, is showing the way and taking action for a clean energy future in Washington State. We want to thank Councilmembers Ben Stuckart, Kate Burke and Breann Beggs in particular for their leadership in moving this resolution forward.
Earlier this year, Environment Washington helped to launch the Spokane 100% campaign, signing on 22 local businesses and elected leaders and 159 grassroots activists to a 100% clean energy community pledge, hosted a press conference with community leaders, and held a community meeting in April to bring together allies and supporters with council members.
Homegrown companies here in Washington State, including Microsoft and Starbucks, have already committed to going 100% renewable. Now cities and counties are leading the way as well. With this action, Spokane is the fourth local government in Washington State to set a goal of 100% renewable energy after Edmonds, Whatcom County and Bellingham.
It’s 2018. We have the power to harness clean, abundant energy from the sun and wind, and we can do it more efficiently and cheaply than ever before. Yet, we’re still producing, consuming and wasting energy in ways that do lasting harm to our environment and health.
The reality is inescapable: fossil fuels pollute our air, water and land, threatening our health and changing our climate even faster than scientists predicted. We need to seize the moment and lean into a future powered by clean, renewable energy.”
The Spokane action comes as a growing number of cities, states, corporations and institutions across the county consider commitments to 100 percent renewable energy. Currently over 70 cities have committed to 100 percent renewable energy. Nearly 100 major companies have made a 100 percent renewable commitment, including Apple, Walmart and LEGO. Hawaii is committed to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2045. And, bills have been introduced in state legislatures in various states, including Washington, and in both houses of Congress.
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Environment Washington is a statewide, membership-based environmental advocacy organization. www.environmentwashington.org.
