Nathan Alley, Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club, nathan.alley@sierraclub.org
Stephanie Steinbrecher, Sierra Club Ready for 100 Campaign, stephanie.steinbrecher@sierraclub.org
CINCINNATI, OH -- Today, Cincinnati, Ohio became the 100th city in the nation and the second city in Ohio to commit to 100 percent clean, renewable energy.
Mayor John Cranley introduced a resolution that was passed by City Council that commits Cincinnati to a community-wide transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035. The resolution builds upon the Green Cincinnati Plan that was adopted in May 2018.
Cincinnati is the fifth city served by Duke Energy, one of the U.S.’s largest investor-owned utilities, to establish a 100 percent clean energy goal; Dunedin, Florida, also served by Duke, is also scheduled to vote on its own 100 percent clean energy resolution this week.
By committing to 100 percent renewable energy, Cincinnati joins Cleveland as the second city in Ohio to take bold climate action by moving toward a stronger, more resilient energy system for all residents. Cincinnati was recently named a recipient of the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge, which will give the city additional resources to achieve its ambitious clean energy and climate goals.
“Cincinnati’s commitment to Ready For 100 caps an exciting year that started with our Mayor’s pledge to go solar and includes a major update to the Green Cincinnati Plan, our participation in the American Cities Climate Challenge and ongoing statewide efforts to improve Ohio’s residential building energy codes. This resolution commits the City to greening both its facilities and its vehicle fleet, and it ensures that there will be an equitable and just transition that benefits every resident of Greater Cincinnati,” said Nathan Alley, conservation policy coordinator for the Ohio Sierra Club and Chair of the City’s Environmental Advisory Council.
“It has become clear that cities will lead the global effort to fight climate change, and Cincinnati is on the front lines. I am encouraged by the changes we are making, but we have a lot of work left to do,” said Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley.
“We are fortunate in Cincinnati to have leaders who provide leadership. I will be working to make these goals a reality. With the many partners who are stepping up to help implement the Green Cincinnati Plan, 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 is an attainable goal,” said Larry Falkin, Director of the Office of Environment and Sustainability.
“Cincinnati's announcement is exciting but it also underscores how out of touch the local electric utility Duke is with its customers. While Cincinnatians embrace clean energy, Duke continues to try force them to bail out old dirty coal plants, notably the Clifty Creek coal plant just across the border in Indiana that blows pollution into the Queen City every day,” said Neil Waggoner, Campaign Representative of the Ohio Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign.
The full list of 100 cities across the United States committed to being powered by 100 percent renewable energy can be viewed here.
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.