- An increasing number of cities, now over 130 spanning 30 states, have committed to 100% renewable energy goals for their communities. The largest cities with these commitments would account for over 190 terawatt-hours of electricity demand.
- Cities are pursuing these goals to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets, save on energy costs, gain fuel price stability, drive local renewable projects, and realize co-benefits like reduced pollution and health benefits.
- Key elements of community-wide goals include engaging stakeholders, providing benefits to all community members, developing new renewable projects, large-scale renewable energy procurement, motivating residential action, and creating economic opportunities.
2. 100% COMMUNITY-WIDE RENEWABLES COMMITMENTS
Source: Based on data from: Sierra Club, NAZCA, BNEF, CDP
Local governments
with 100% renewables
goals:
• ~130 cities spanning
30 states
• >190 TWh of
electricity demand
129
82
50
16
2019
2018
2017
2016 Increasing number of city commitments
over last few years
3. SUBSTANTIAL CLEAN ENERGY COMMITMENTS BY LEADING CITIES
Source: Based on NREL SLED data on electricity consumption (2016)
33.5
24.7
9.5 8.8
7.3 7.2 7.0 6.5 5.9 5.9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Los Angeles Chicago San Diego Portland Denver San
Francisco
Atlanta Kansas City Cleveland San Jose
TWh
Largest Cities with 100% Community-Wide Clean Energy
Commitments, by Electricity Consumption
4. AMERICAN CITIES CLIMATE CHALLENGE
Supported by Bloomberg
Philanthropies,WRI and
RMI provide technical
assistance to 25 Climate
Challengecities on
renewables procurement.
Also, providing resources
and support to 100 cities
through cohorts of cities
with similar interests.
5. WHAT ARE CITIES HOPING TO ACHIEVE?
• Meet GHG reduction goals
• Save on energy costs
• Obtain fuel price stability benefits
• Drive local and new renewables projects
• Obtain co-benefits: reduced pollution, health
benefits, water savings, fuel security
• Create jobs and economic benefits of clean
energy
6. KEY ELEMENTS OF COMMUNITY-WIDE GOALS
• Engaging stakeholders
• Providing benefits to community
members (and articulating benefits)
• Developing new community projects
• Large scale procurement
• Motivating residents to take action
• Reaping co-benefits of clean energy
• Including all customers
– Low income, minority populations,
vulnerable pops
• Creating new jobs and economic
development opportunities
7. CITY PROCUREMENT APPROACHES VARY BY MARKET
Source: Lean Energy and RMI
Authorized in 8
States:
• California
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Rhode island
• Virginia
Legislation
Introduced:
• Connecticut
• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• Oregon
OR
CA
NM
IL
OH
VA
NY
MD
NJ
CT
RINH
Community ChoiceAggregation
availablein somestates
MA
Utility Options
• 18 states have utility
green tariff options
• 30 utility offerings
• City examples:
Minneapolis, Bellevue,
Salt Lake City
• Negotiated large-scale
procurement with utilities
Competitive Suppliers or
Direct PPAs
• Some cities procuring
through retail provider in
restructured markets
• 3 cities entered into
direct PPAs – DC,
Houston, Philadelphia
8. CITY COMMUNITY WIDE RENEWABLES PLANS
Salt Lake City Atlanta
• Goal: 100% RE community-wide by 2035
• Developed community-wide renewables plan
• Large city load of 8 TWh, 9% of utility load
• 100% clean energy scenario:
– 66% of electricity provided directly from clean
energy
– 48,000 residential solar installations
– 12,500 community solar-powered homes
– Financing 30 out-of-state wind farms
• Community elements include:
– Developing equitable community-solar program
– Expanding education programs for residents
– Launching renewable energy programs for low-
income residents
– Workforce training, including collaboration with
technical colleges and trades
• Goal: 100% RE community-wide by 2030
• Utah passed legislation - Community
Renewable Energy Act, allowing communities
to opt in (and then customers to opt out) of
100% renewables product offering
• Working with its utility, Rocky Mountain Power,
and other cities to develop 100% RE program
• Developed joint agreement with utility to
undertake process
• Developed 100% RE feasibility study
• Utility entering into contract for RE generation
• Similar to CCA model, but utility is serving
customers
Differentapproaches being used to serve community needs
9. • Most cities are staging efforts and addressing renewables for
municipal facilities first
• However, many cities are developing implementation plans and
taking some steps toward achieving community-wide goals
• Mayors and city councils are playing a key role in designing and
developing implementation plans
• Strong focus on stakeholder engagement processes and ensuring
that all customers benefit from the transition to clean energy
• Cities are focusing on renewable projects that offer co-benefits to low-
income or disadvantaged communities; workforce development
• New models are emerging to offer renewable products to community
through utility and third-party offerings
PATH FORWARD