Action Alert: Ask City Council to support clean energy! *updated with vote results
*Updated 11/28/17
BREAKING: Charlotte City Council just voted 6-5 to send a resolution that would commit the City to 100% clean energy by 2050 back to the Environment Committee for further discussion.
Many members raised concerns that the language of the resolution was unclear and that it did not include an action plan showing how the goal would be achieved.
Council Member Eiselt made the motion to send it back to committee for further discussion and creation of a high-level action plan.
While we would have liked to have seen the resolution pass tonight, we believe the decision to send it back to committee is well-intentioned and that if this commitment is made soon — along with a high-level plan — that is an even better outcome than a resolution alone.
Thank you to everyone who contacted City Council over the past few days about this and the ten residents who spoke in support at tonight’s meeting.
We will need you again to ensure this commitment is made early in 2018!
On November 13, the Charlotte City Council Environment Committee was asked to vote in support of a resolution that would demonstrate the city’s support of a state and national goal of 100% clean energy by 2050 or sooner.
Specifically, it states, “officials and staff will consider all municipal decisions in light of whether they will bring the City and its residents, businesses, and institutions closer to 100 percent renewable energy and ensure that the benefits of renewable energy are realized by North Carolinians from all walks of life by 2050 or sooner.” (See the entire resolution at end of this post.)
The committee voted 2-2 with Council Members Ajmera and Kinsey voting for the resolution while Council Members Driggs and Fallon voted against.
Now the resolution moves to the full City Council for a vote this Monday, November 27.
Be sure and let Council know that a commitment to move towards 100% clean energy as soon as possible is important to you by sending them an email immediately. We suggest this subject line: Please Vote For Clean Energy.
Here are the addresses of all Charlotte City Council Members, the City Manager, the City Sustainability and Energy Manager, and Sustain Charlotte’s Executive Director. Simply copy and paste:
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
The Resolution:
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF A STATE AND NATIONAL GOAL OF 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2050 OR SOONER AND THE CREATION OF GREEN JOBS
WHEREAS, the Charlotte City Council committed in the FY 2018-2019 Environment Focus
Area plan to “become a global leader in environmental sustainability, balancing economic
growth with preserving our natural resources;” and,
WHEREAS, the City of Charlotte recognizes that protecting our natural resources, promoting
conservation, and improving the environment is fundamentally important to quality of life
and essential to maintaining a vibrant economy; and,
WHEREAS, Charlotte is becoming a global leader in environmental sustainability by
practicing environmental stewardship in City operations and seeking and supporting
collaborative and regional solutions to environmental problems; and,
WHEREAS, social mobility and economic advancement will be improved by investing in renewable
energy that will further the City of Charlotte’s technological hubs, encourage the growth of the
renewable industry, and create jobs here and across the state; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Charlotte can get 100 percent of its energy from clean, renewable sources by
harnessing our abundant renewable resources, and investing and supporting the innovations in energy
conservation, energy efficiency, green transportation, energy storage, and other technologies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Charlotte should commit to a goal of 100 percent
clean, renewable energy for all energy sectors by 2050, and move as quickly as possible to achieve that
goal.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT officials and staff will consider all municipal decisions in light of
whether they will bring the City and its residents, businesses, and institutions closer to 100 percent
renewable energy and ensure that the benefits of renewable energy are realized by North Carolinians
from all walks of life by 2050 or sooner.
Thanks for reading!
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