City Of Chicago Announces 100% Renewable Energy Goal

Renewable Energy - Chicago

An ambitious plan to make Chicago the largest major city in the USA to have 100 percent renewable energy supply for its public buildings was announced yesterday.

Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Park District, and City Colleges of Chicago have joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s commitment to a project to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2025.

Collectively, the bodies accounted for nearly 1.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity consumption last year; representing eight percent of all electricity use in Chicago and equivalent to powering approximately 295,000 households.

The Windy City will be making use of its namesake and solar power to achieve its goals; through acquiring renewable energy credits, green electricity supply from utilities and on-site generation.

City of Chicago
Image: City Of Chicago

“As the Trump administration pulls back on building a clean energy economy, Chicago is doubling down,” Mayor Emanuel said. “By committing the energy used to power our public buildings to wind and solar energy, we are sending a clear signal that we remain committed to building a 21st century economy here in Chicago.”

Illinois Sierra Club President  Jack Darin praised the initiative.

” While President Trump and his administration would reverse America’s progress on climate change and clean energy, Mayor Emanuel is ensuring that Chicago will move forward, and that its residents will benefit from the good jobs and cleaner air that come from renewable energy projects,” he said.

The announcement is the latest in a series of City of Chicago initiatives relating to energy. The City had already eliminated coal from its energy mix in 2013 and last week, it earned a 2017 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for its efforts in accelerating and promoting energy efficiency strategies through local programs and policies.

On the small-scale side of things, Chicago appears to be a solar-friendly city. In 2012, the City of Chicago and ComEd, the largest electricity utility in Illinois, were awarded a grant under the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative to support the installation of solar power systems by removing barriers. This has resulted in a reduction in fees and waiting times, and streamlined and standardized permitting and zoning processes.

Home to nearly three million people, Chicago is the third largest city in the USA. The state of Illinois has a target of 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.

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