Third Ohio city commits to 100% renewable energy

The city council representing the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio, passed a resolution establishing a goal of 100% 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% 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 sponsors Tom Bullock and Tristan Rader led efforts to draft and pass this resolution.

Recent polling from Yale Climate Communications shows that 76% 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 passage of coal and nuclear 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 U.S. to adopt a 100% renewable energy target.

“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,” said Chad Stephens, conservation program coordinator of the Ohio Sierra Club.

“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% 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,” said City Councilmember Tom Bullock in a letter to City Council colleagues. “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).”