The Town of Carrboro’s Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to pass a clean energy resolution Tuesday.
The resolution states that the Carrboro Board of Aldermen endorses a “transition from fossil fuels to 100% clean renewable energy for all energy sectors by 2050 or sooner and 80 percent clean renewable energy for all energy sectors by 2030 to avoid climate catastrophe, to promote job creation and economic growth, and to protect the Earth for current and future generations from climate catastrophe."
Carrboro became the 13th municipality in North Carolina and one of nearly 40 American municipalities outside North Carolina to commit to the renewable energy goal, according to the resolution.The Town of Hillsborough became the first town in North Carolina to adopt the resolution last month.
Alderman Randee Haven-O’Donnell said she has been a part of Carrboro’s Climate Action Task Force and supports the goal of 100 percent clean energy.
“Carrboro, we see ourselves as modeling the way,” Haven-O’Donnell said. “And by getting on board with the state and national goals, it puts us in a position to say we’re making a commitment to larger goals and with some of the larger players that are key to moving this forward.”
She said she wishes 100 percent clean energy could eventually be achieved and thinks it can be reached in Carrboro before 2050.
“In our neighborhoods, we can utilize the solar industry that North Carolina is building and get it to the consumers in a way that all communities can afford,” Haven-O'Donnell said.
Alderman Damon Seils, also in support of the resolution, said Carrboro adopted the resolution in response to the recent decision at the federal level to dismiss concerns about climate change.
“In part, it’s a response to the president’s decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord,” Seils said. “We wanted to reaffirm Carrboro’s support of the goals of that accord and the overall goals of addressing climate change.”
