Breckenridge Commits To 100 Percent Clean, Renewable Electricity

Breckenridge, Colo. – The Breckenridge Town Council today unanimously approved a resolution committing the community to shift away from dirty fossil fuels and to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2035.  Breckenridge joins a growing coalition of mountain communities moving to 100 percent clean energy across the country, including big cities like Salt Lake City and towns like Aspen.

With support from local volunteers, community leaders, The Climate Reality Project and Sierra Club, the town council will commit to reach 100 percent renewable electricity community-wide. This announcement comes on the heels of a similar pledges made this year by Nederland and Pueblo to transition to renewable electricity.

“The Town of Breckenridge is thrilled to continue our efforts in sustainability by initiating a town-wide goal for renewable energy by 2035,” says Mayor Eric Mamula. “This has been something Breckenridge has been working towards and I’m happy to see it go into effect. Keeping our town clean for generations to come is important to our community, and I believe this resolution shows our commitment to all our sustainability efforts.”

Breckenridge’s announcement recognizes the reality of the climate crisis. Sixteen of the 17 hottest years on record globally have occurred since the beginning of this century, thanks to climate change. Experts estimate that by the end of the century, only six of the 19 cities that have previously hosted the Winter Olympics will be cold enough to host again.

The practical clean energy solutions that communities like Breckenridge can use to help solve this crisis are getting more affordable and accessible every year. As just one example of many, the cost to install solar energy dropped more than 70 percent from 2010 to 2016 alone, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

“I am thrilled that the Breckenridge Town Council has taken this bold step,” said Beth Groundwater, chair of the Breckenridge for 100% Renewable Energy Campaign.  “I want to thank the dedicated volunteers and petition signers for our Breckenridge for 100% Renewable Energy campaign, who have come to events and Town Council meetings, brought friends to the campaign, written letters to Town Council, and in so many other ways shown that Breckenridge residents and businesses wholeheartedly support this resolution.”

“We’re proud of communities like Breckenridge, Nederland, and Aspen demonstrating leadership in our mountain communities,” said Colorado Sierra Club Director Jim Alexee.  “Hundreds of residents in these small towns are speaking up to the importance for a just and equitable transition to a renewable energy economy for its benefits of creating jobs, saving energy dollars, and fighting climate change.  We look forward to working with our local members, supporters, partners and civic leaders on this transition in the years ahead.”

““Climate Reality is proud to work with our partners at the Sierra Club and mountain communities like Breckenridge that recognize the impacts the climate crisis is already having on snow and outdoor recreation,” said Climate Reality’s 100% Committed Campaign Coordinator Lindsey Halvorson. “Together, we are proud to be working towards local solutions that bring us all hope. After months of hard work, the Town of Breckenridge is taking a tremendous step towards a clean, renewable energy economy.”

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About The Climate Reality Project

Founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore, The Climate Reality Project is leading worldwide efforts to accelerate the shift to clean energy and solve the climate crisis. With a global movement more than 5 million strong and a grassroots network of trained Climate Reality Leader activists, we are spreading the truth about the climate crisis and building popular support for clean energy solutions. For more information, visit www.climaterealityproject.org or follow us on Twitter at @ClimateReality.

The Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign is a new national campaign launched in 2016 working to accelerate a just and equitable transition to 100 percent clean energy in the United States. Ready for 100 is campaigning to get cities in the United States to move away from dirty, outdated fossil fuels and to commit to 100 percent clean energy.