Proposal Would Move Lakewood To 100 Percent Renewable Energy

LAKEWOOD, OH — On Monday night, two Lakewood council members will propose a resolution to establish 100 percent clean energy goals for city property by 2025 and the community at large by 2035. The legislation calls for the development of interim milestones, budget estimates, equity metrics and more.

Development of the clean energy plan would take place in 2020 and community input on the plan would be sought, according to the proposed resolution. The legislation also binds council to seeking out the lowest cost measures to meet energy needs in pursuit of frugal use of taxpayer dollars.

The "Ready for 100" proposal will be brought by councilpersons Tom Bullock and Tristan Rader. In a letter addressing Lakewood City Council, the duo argue local governments must take a hands-on role in preparing for and stymying climate change.

"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)," they wrote.

City officials have already made strides toward the "Ready for 100" goal, the letter noted.

"...since early 2019, we have procured 100 percent clean electricity for our two largest meters and 50 percent 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," Bullock and Rader wrote.

Lakewood would not be the first Northeast Ohio city to promise action in the face of climate change. Cleveland officials have vowed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and Mayor Frank Jackson signed the Paris Climate Accord.