Philadelphia, PA – Mayor Jim Kenney announced his support today for a goal of transitioning Philadelphia to 100% clean, renewable energy. He becomes the 100th mayor to sign, joining the growing coalition Mayors for 100% Clean Energy who have made similar pledges of powering their communities with 100 percent renewables, such as solar and wind.
“Since the White House has opted to step away from its obligations to this issue, all cities – including Philadelphia – must step up. The hotter, wetter, more extreme weather brought by climate change disproportionately harms our city’s most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor Kenney. “Transitioning to a just energy system that is clean and affordable for all will slow these changes and make Philadelphia a better place for current residents and future generations.”
Mayors for 100% Clean Energy, a Sierra Club Ready for 100 Campaign initiative, represents a growing number of mayors across the Unites States who have pledged to transition their communities to 100% renewables.
“We are at a moment in time when the environment is under attack from federal policies,” said Philadelphia Ready for 100 volunteer Pratima Agrawal. “Mayor Kenney’s pledge is a guiding light for our resistance against those attacks and an affirmation that progress can happen when people rally together.”
The announcement comes ahead of the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors at the end of the month in Miami Beach which Mayor Kenney is expected to attend. Kenney’s endorsement serves as a strong message to the mayoral community about the need for local leadership on climate change, the environment, and their benefits to communities.
“As the developer of Paseo Verde, the first certified Platinum project in the LEED for Neighborhood Development program, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha is proud to bring climate change awareness to the forefront of the residents we serve,” stated president & CEO Nilda Ruiz. “As an organization serving some of the most vulnerable populations in Philadelphia in terms of health and the impacts of climate change, we see the need to reach for 100% clean energy in order to solve these problems in our lifetime.”
“The People’s Emergency Center knows that global warming and urban poverty can be fought by creating green jobs, installing solar panels, weatherizing buildings, and upgrading homes to be more energy efficient,” said Neighborhood Advisory Committee manager Kevin Brown. “To us, environmentalism isn’t just about recycling and repurposing items. It’s also about reclaiming communities and social justice.”
“The Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Coalition applauds Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and the Sierra Club for their excellent statecraft in ushering in a 100 percent clean energy future for the city of brotherly love,” said spokesperson and Eastwick resident Terry Williams. “The Eastwick neighborhood of Philadelphia knows all too well the implications of a world confronting a changing climate and we stand to acknowledge the sacred work of our visionary leaders.”
With Kenney’s pledge, Philadelphia becomes the second largest city in the U.S. to sign onto Mayors for 100% Clean Energy. In addition to the mayoral endorsements, more than 25 cities across the country have passed similar resolutions, including Pittsburgh, Bethlehem, and Allentown in Pennsylvania. To learn more, go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/ready-for-100.
The Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter is a statewide, volunteer-led organization consisting of ten groups and nearly 120,000 members and supporters who explore, enjoy, and protect our Commonwealth. The Philadelphia Ready for 100 team is an all-volunteer group formed to encourage Philadelphia’s transition to 100% clean energy.
APM for Everyone is a Latino founded education, health, human services, community and economic development non-profit serving Philadelphia. APM is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia area by helping families achieve their greatest potential with life-improving social services.
Operating in West Philadelphia, the People’s Emergency Center’s mission is to nurture families, strengthen neighborhoods and drive change. The PEC community development corporation programs respond to community needs and build on neighborhood assets to help bridge the digital divide, expand mixed-income housing opportunities, stimulate economic growth, create wealth, and improve the quality of life for all West Philadelphia residents.
The Eastwick Friends & Neighbors Coalition represents a partnership between community members, the Friends of Heinz Refuge, and supporters of a sustainable future for the community of Eastwick, located in southwest Philadelphia. The Coalition is committed to advocating for development that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable for Eastwick, preserving maximum, contiguous green space.
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