Establishment of renewable energy and carbon emission goals on SLT Council agenda

Submitted by paula on Fri, 04/14/2017 - 9:53pm

The South Lake Tahoe City Council will vote Tuesday on adopting a resolution to use 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2030.

"This could be a historic moment for the community, as we would join a growing movement of communities taking control of their energy future to tackle climate change," said Devin Middlebrook, TRPA Sustainability Program Coordinator. "We expect a big crowd of supporters wearing white shirts and 100 percent stickers in solidarity."

Middlebrook, Bonnie Turnbull and Nick Exline gave a presentation to the Council during their pre-strategic planning session special meeting on February 14. They showed how the City could establish renewable energy and carbon emissions reduction goals, and how the City of Salt Lake City moved to be 100 percent renewable by 2032.

So far, 27 cities around the country have like goals, and if the SLT Council passes their resolution they'd be #28.

The resolution:

Renewable Energy Goals: The City will strive toward 100 percent Renewable Electricity by 2032. To reach this goal, the City of South Lake Tahoe will encourage the transition to 100 percent renewable energy by its local community energy supplier (Liberty Energy) by 2032; and the City will also endeavor to adopt policies to encourage 100 percent renewable energy for municipal operations by 2032, including 50 percent municipal renewable energy by 2025; the City will conduct thorough cost analysis of adoption of these goals by the end of 2018 and determine a funding source for the efforts. Publication of the City's efforts will be included the City's annual performance reports to the public.

Community Carbon Emissions Reduction Goal: 80 percent by 2040. The City of South Lake Tahoe will strive toward the reduction of community greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2040, including a reduction of at least 50 percent by 2030. This reduction will be relative to the City's current emissions baseline records and data. Updated community greenhouse gas emissions inventories will be published at least every three years starting in 2018.

The SLT City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 18 starts at 9:00 a.m. at the airport.