Cyrus Reed, 512-740-4086, cyrus.reed@sierraclub.org
DENTON, TX - Today, the City of Denton became the second municipality in Texas to commit to transition to 100 percent clean and renewable sources of energy.
The Denton City Council voted to revise the city’s Renewable Denton Plan, which now includes a goal of producing enough energy from renewables to meet 100 percent of its electric needs from contracts with solar and wind developers as early as 2020. A copy of Denton’s ordinance and staff presentation on the energy plan can be seen here and here.
Tuesday’s vote makes Denton the 58th city in the country to commit to 100 percent clean energy.
In response, Ed Soph, Denton resident and Sierra Club member, and Cyrus Reed, Conservation Director of the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter, issued the following statements:
Ed Soph: “This is the beginning of an energy transformation in Denton. The foundation has been laid for the day when Denton has its own renewable generation capability with community and utility-scale solar installations.”
Cyrus Reed: “The Sierra Club applauds Denton City Council for its leadership and pragmatism. They could have easily let their current plan ride, but they decided to take a closer look at their options and make smarter decisions that will save people money on their bills.” “We encourage city leaders and Denton Municipal Electric to take the next step to transition away from relying on the Gibbons Creek coal plant, as well as ensuring their next renewable energy investments include community solar projects and energy storage.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.