Jake Slobe| May 29, 2017
This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.
In an announcement last month, the city announced their goal was to meet the community’s electricity needs with renewables by 2035 and to move all remaining energy sources to renewable ones by 2050.
Portland and the county join 25 other U.S. cities that have made the 100 percent pledge in recent years.
City officials will move to add five renewable projects at city facilities, such as solar projects at some police and fire headquarters.
Monday’s announcement was heavy on grand pronouncements but light on financial details. The city and county can lead the way in some respects, but much of the heavy lifting will depend on utilities and the market for electric vehicles accelerating.
To meet the electricity goals, the city and county will have to rely on utilities like Portland General Electric to more quickly turn away from coal and other fossil fuels.
To learn more about Portland’s plan, visit iowaenvironmentalfocus.org
From the UI Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research, I’m Betsy Stone.