Photo via Danny Colon.
Today in Miami the US Conference of Mayors will vote on a major resolution that would formally establish support for the goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy in cities nationwide.Spearheaded by Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Steve Benjamin, and supported by over 110 individual mayors from across the country and political spectrum, the resolution is in direct contrast to the Trump administration's resistance to addressing climate and sustainable job creation. It is part of the Sierra Club's Mayors for 100 campaign co-chaired by Benjamin, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski , San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine. The resolution is one of the strongest energy policies adopted by a seriously influential association of city leaders, representing millions of citizens across the US including a wide range of cities like Los Angeles, Baltimore, Columbia, Honolulu, Boston, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, New York City, and Atlanta.The conference is the 85th annual meeting of mayors from across the country, and this landmark agreement is an important next step towards local leaders officially adopting renewable energy and job creation policies. It demonstrates power of local organizing efforts, and importance of being engaged at all levels of government.The resolution will very likely pass the entire membership of mayors after surviving a contentious first pass through a subcommittee that deals with energy and climate issues. A strong, last-minute pushback from lobbyists representing incinerator companies attempted to stall the resolution, but a coordinated effort led by the Sierra Club and other advocates kept the effort alive.Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and Mayor Benjamin, co-chairs of the Sierra Club's Mayors for 100% Clean Energy campaign, will lead a press conference on Monday, June 26 to announce the resolution and next steps. A recent report from the Sierra Club articulates result of US cities making the transition to 100 percent renewable energy can reduce carbon pollution and help the US meet Paris climate agreement targets.VICE Impact is proud to be a partner in the Sierra Club led effort, Mayors for 100% Clean Energy.Updated 6/26/2017 4:22 pm ET: Story updated to reflect update in activity at mayor's conference, and to include full-slate of Mayors for 100 co-chairs.
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