Friday, August 11, 2017

Por Que Orlando, Pero No Miami? ... by gimleteye

Congratulations to the Sierra Club Central Florida Group, Sierra Club's Ready for 100 Campaign, and the First 50 Coalition, a broad-based alliance led by the League of Women Voters of Orange County, and many thanks to Orlando's Mayor Buddy Dyer, Sustainability Director Chris Castro, and the Orlando City Council on making this important commitment!

Orlando is the third city in Florida to commit to 100% clean, renewable energy, following St. Petersburg and Sarasota.  

If you would like to participate in this campaign and target your city for a 100 % renewable energy commitment, please contact Phil Compton, Sierra Club Florida's lead state organizer on the Ready for 100 Campaign, at phil.compton@sierraclub.org.

Regards,

Frank


photo
Frank Jackalone
Senior Organizing Manager/ Florida Chapter Director
1990 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Office: 727-824-8813, x302;  Cell: 727-804-1317



Orlando Becomes Largest Florida City To Commit To 100% Clean and Renewable Energy

ORLANDO - The Orlando City Commission today unanimously approved a resolution establishing a goal to move Orlando to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050. Orlando is now the largest city in Florida to make such a commitment and joins a growing movement of more than three dozen cities nationwide that have committed to a 100 percent clean energy future.

Council chambers were filled with elated members of the First 50 Coalition, a broad-based alliance led by the League of Women Voters of Orange County that is pushing for sustainability in Central Florida.
“Today, Orlando takes its place on the regional, state and national stage as a forward-thinking city committed to a healthier, sustainable future,” said LWVOC Co-President Carol Davis. “This is a first, important step, and we plan to continue to support and encourage the City to follow with concrete measures that solidify this commitment.”
Orlando represents the 40th city in the United States to commit to move to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. Mayor Buddy Dyer has already championed multiple green energy initiatives, including signing the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda in the past few months. In June, Mayor Dyer signed onto the Sierra Club’s Mayors for 100% Clean Energy campaign and endorsed a vision of powering all of Orlando with 100 percent clean energy. Other Florida cities that have committed to transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy include St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

The local NAACP branch, a key member of the First 50 Coalition, praised the City Commission’s vote. “We stand in support with the Orlando City Commission, in realizing the importance of renewable energy to it residents, by taking the necessary actions to begin the transformation,” said Beverlye Colson Neal, president of the NAACP’s local branch. “We look forward to working with the City to educate the residents of the importance and advantages of renewable energy as we move into the future.”

Sara Isaac, LWVOC’s Director of Partnerships, agreed. “We applaud the City of Orlando for looking ahead to the future and seeing that a better tomorrow is possible if we take bold action today,” Isaac said. “Orlando is a young city that is just now beginning to fully realize its possibilities. This action showcases Orlando as a potential powerhouse player on the national stage.”

Commissioners Regina Hill and Samuel Ings 
listen as Sierra Club Central Florida Group leader 
Marj Holt explains how 100% Clean Energy 
for All will benefit the entire Orlando community. 
In a letter sent to commissioners urging their support, First 50 acknowledged that Orlando has already taken significant steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, praising in particular Green Works Orlando and Smart ORL, which boosted Orlando down a path of clean-energy and sustainability.

Orlando’s vote was applauded by Phil Compton, senior organizing representative with the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Campaign in Florida, and a member of the First 50 Coalition.



“All across our state and our nation, cities are committing to a future powered by 100 percent clean and renewable energy for all,” Compton said. “Today, Orlando joins this growing movement of cities that are ready for 100 percent clean, renewable energy."
First 50, which includes civic, environmental, industry and faith-based organizations, believes Orlando’s progress toward sustainability will encourage other communities to follow suit. The Coalition includes the League of Women Voters of Orange County, IDEAS For Us, Organize Florida, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, FL SUN, Sierra Club’s Ready for 100, Central Florida Sierra Club, ESA Renewables, Orange Audubon Society, Climate Reality Orlando Chapter, Florida Citizens for Science, Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Florida Renewable Energy Association, Citizens' Climate Lobby - Orlando, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Media Coverage of Tuesday's historic action by Orlando City Council has been extensive and is expected to continue in this weekend'sOrlando Sentinel


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