Durham City Council members unanimously passed a resolution on Monday that commits the city to an equitable transition to 100% renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2050.
This bold action puts Durham on a rapidly growing list of communities across the country that are standing up against climate change and supporting clean energy.
Advocates for the resolutions gathered at two recent city council work sessions to show their support for a cleaner, more sustainable future in the city and North Carolina. The city’s Environmental Affairs Board, General Services, and other city staff worked diligently to create this powerful commitment, which includes an action plan and encourages a community-wide transition in all energy sectors.
“Durham’s vote is a shining example of the growing momentum and visionary leadership of local communities across the country,” said Blake Fleming, lead organizer for the North Carolina Sierra Club. “State by state and city by city, our nation is moving away from dirty fossil fuels toward an economy where clean energy powers our homes and puts people to work. As the City of Durham makes this transition, we must ensure that all of its communities’ needs are considered and that the benefits of a 100% clean energy economy are equitably shared.”
Sierra Club volunteers have been working with local governments across North Carolina to encourage passage of similar resolutions. Seven counties and 14 cities/towns have taken this important step, including Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Hillsborough and Buncombe County, among more than 100 local governments nationwide.
