A third city in the state of Ohio has committed to 100 percent renewable energy

Ohio — Lakewood City Council passed a resolution establishing a goal of 100 percent clean, renewable energy. Lakewood joins Cleveland and Cincinnati as the third Ohio city, and the first suburb, to make this commitment.

The resolution states Lakewood will achieve 100 percent clean energy for city facilities by 2025 and community-wide by 2035. The legislation also directs the City to develop a plan for achieving this goal in consultation with the community in 2020.

City Councilmembers and resolution sponsor’s Tom Bullock and Tristan Rader led efforts to draft and pass this resolution.

Recent polling from Yale Climate Communications shows that 76 percent of Ohio voters believe a state requirement of 100% renewable electricity will have a positive impact on the state’s environment, and majorities also believe this policy will improve Ohioans’ health and economy. After the disastrous passage of dirty power bailout bill HB 6 at the state level earlier this year, cities like Lakewood, Cleveland, and Cincinnati demonstrate that Ohio communities are leading the way toward a just and equitable local clean energy transition.

Lakewood becomes the 141st city in the US to adopt a 100 percent renewable energy target.

In response, Chad Stephens, Conservation Program Coordinator of the Ohio Sierra Club, issued the following statement:

“When it comes to using fossil fuels, Ohio communities have had enough business as usual. While legislators at the state level continue to advocate for regressive policies that hurt families and workers, cities like Lakewood are advocating for a different future: one that promotes clean air and water, healthy communities, and affordable electricity for all. Lakewood’s leadership in pursuing 100 percent clean, renewable power for the entire community shows that a just and equitable transition in Ohio will be local. Building on Cleveland’s adoption of the 100 percent goal in 2018, Cuyahoga County can lead the way for climate and clean energy progress for the state. As more cities continue to take a stand for environmental and economic justice, the sum effect of Ohio communities’ progress will prove to be our greatest strength.”

In a letter to City Council colleagues, City Councilmember Tom Bullock said the following:

“The City of Lakewood already has made significant progress towards this goal: since early 2019, we have procured 100% clean electricity for our two largest meters and 50 percent for all others, including for streetlights. In addition, we generate clean power from a cogeneration system recently installed at the wastewater treatment plant, and we anticipate the installation of four large solar systems on City buildings in the coming year. Let’s continue our leadership, which is needed since action by local governments and businesses are a significant driver for clean energy growth and for meeting carbon emissions targets identified in the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).”

City Councilmember Tristan Rader said the following:

“There has been a tremendous outpouring of support for these efforts to make Lakewood a more sustainable place. We have a great community here of people who care about protecting our planet. We take climate change seriously and we will do our part to make our community and our planet a more sustainable place. It’s our responsibility. Before you go anywhere, you need a destination. That is exactly what we are providing here. A time-bound goal that we can work towards. We look forward to working with the new administration in 2020 to plan the route to a more sustainable future.”