100% Renewables By 2050 – Portland and Multnomah County Resolutions
Posted on June 5, 2017 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Energy
On June 1, both Multnomah County and the City of Portland adopted resolutions outlining a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. I feel honored to have testified on behalf of CUB that day in support of the two resolutions, and want to extend our gratitude to City and County leadership, as well as the many stakeholders, who worked diligently on the resolution language.
A major priority of the resolutions is to ensure the equitable sharing of environmental and financial benefits across all socio-economic groups, and in all parts of the City and County. What I found particularly moving was testimony from students who successfully urged the Portland City Council to form a Youth Climate Council as a part of the resolution.
The 100 percent renewable goal is not just for public facilities; it encompasses all energy users. Also included in the goal is to decarbonize the transportation sector, which contributes 40 percent of Multnomah County’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Reaching the 100 percent goal by 2050 will prove challenging, but the resolution sets the stage for aggressive actions. These actions build on the significant climate change measures already taken by both the City and County. These jurisdictions were some of the earliest governmental bodies in the country to adopt climate change plans – most recently the highly regarded joint City and County 2015 Climate Action Plan.
Ironically, the City and County adopted these resolutions on June 1, the same day that President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord. Even before that federal action, it was clear that local governments must continue to play an outsized role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That is even more important now. Thankfully, Portland and Multnomah County are truly national leaders with their adoption of their 100 Percent Renewables By 2050 resolutions.
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06/05/17 | 0 Comments | 100% Renewables By 2050 – Portland and Multnomah County Resolutions