In Washington, and from sea to shining sea, mayors call for solar

Environment Washington Research and Policy Center

Seattle, WA – Mayors from every U.S. state, including Washington, are embracing a vision for more solar energy in their communities, as stated in a letter released today by Environment Washington Research & Policy Center. The group of over 200 “Mayors for Solar Energy” represents cities and towns in states from Florida to Alaska, California to Maine, including nine in Washington State.

“While our federal government is promoting 19th-century energy policies, we have to rely on local governments to lead the United States’ transition to modern clean energy usage,” says Bruce Speight, Environment Washington Director. “Mayors across the state and country are rising to the challenge — thinking bigger, acting smarter, and tapping the sun for more power.”

The list of mayors who signed the letter spans the political spectrum, including 25 Republicans, as well as a broad range of city sizes and budgets.

“The Town of Friday Harbor thought it was important to utilize solar energy to keep rates down for the citizens and to show leadership in moving to clean energy alternatives, said Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan. “The Town’s Sewer Treatment facility uses a lot of power and the proposed solar array at that facility will significantly reduce our energy bills. We will not only pay off the infrastructure costs with the savings but will also cut deeply into our expenditures.”

The number of signatories on the Mayors for Solar Energy letter has more than tripled from 70 on the initial letter in December of 2017, and Environment Washington Research and Policy Center says that number will continue to grow. The Mayors for Solar Energy project goes beyond the letter itself; the organization is also producing resources and hosting trainings to help cities adopt more renewable energy.

“Mayors know the needs of their townspeople better than anyone,” said Speight. “They know the existing infrastructure and how to adapt it to best allow solar and other forms of clean, renewable energy to displace the fossil fuels that pollute our communities and make our families sick. These are neighbors helping neighbors to a brighter future.”

Learn more about the Mayors for Solar project here.

Environment Washington Research & Policy Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives. For more information, visit www.environmentwashingtoncenter.org.