Fort Collins is 9th Colo. city to take renewable energy pledge

The city of Fort Collins has become Colorado’s ninth local government to pledge to get all of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.

The City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to take the”Ready for 100″ pledge pushed by the Sierra Club. Democrat Jared Polis, the frontrunner for governor, is running on a promise to get the state’s electric power generation to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.

The other Colorado municipalities that have made such a pledge are Denver as well as Aspen, Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont, Nederland and Pueblo, along with Summit County. Fort Collins is the 86th city in the nation, and ninth in Colorado, to adopt this goal, according to the Sierra Club.

“Clean energy will ensure a sustainable future for Fort Collins. Climate change, air and water pollution, and exploding growth in our area call for bold action that will safeguard our environment and strengthen our local economy,” Nick Francis with the Fort Collins Sustainability Group said in a statement released by the Sierra Club.

“Moving to 100 percent clean electricity will create new business opportunities, lower energy bills, and build a resilient future for Fort Collins,” Francis added. “The goal in this resolution supports the emissions reduction goals in the city’s Climate Action Plan and will bring down energy costs for residents. It’s a win for everyone.”

Tom Rhodes, executive committee chair of the Sierra Club’s Poudre Canyon Group, said the renewable energy effort is gaining momentum across the state.

“Fort Collins is showing itself to be a leader in building a in building a better energy system for the Front Range and across Colorado,” he stated. “Communities like Fort Collins show that climate action is being led locally, and that a just transition towards clean energy will benefit everyone.”