At the time of its inception Earth Day “inspired 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States — to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts,” according to EarthDay.org.
By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first-of-their-kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later congress passed the Clean Water Act.
Continuing its mission, this year the organization is focusing on making an impact with Earth Action Day; connecting communities and lawmakers” for an open and honest conversation on how renewable energy can work for them.”
According to the organization, contrary to popular perception “much of the United States’ clean power production happens in the politically-diverse heartland of Middle America, with some of the most exciting renewable energy transitions occurring in unexpected places.”
The six cities chosen as leaders in renewable energy are;
Iowa City, Iowa, which reached its 2030 goal of a 45% emissions reduction a decade early in 2020. Much of this success is due to widespread adoption of wind energy.
Innovative programs like Iowa City’s rental electrification initiative are also breaking new ground. The city is piloting a program that incentivizes home energy upgrades for rental properties in exchange for landlords accepting low-income housing vouchers. The first five properties will receive upgrades this year, making Iowa City the first in the nation to attempt such a program.
Additionally, the city will receive Iowa’s first patrol-rated electric police vehicle in 2025.
Denton, Texas, is the only city in Texas where all residences and businesses operate on 100% renewable energy. Serving 64,000 customers, the city has the highest wind power per capita in the U.S.
In 2020, Denton achieved its goal of fulfilling all electricity demand through wind and solar power. These measures not only position the city as a national leader on clean energy but also are projected to save the city over $500 million over a 20-year period.
Salt Lake City, Utah, has not only improved its own economy and air quality through renewable energy, but has also stepped up to lead cities across the state to a sustainable and healthy future.
“Salt Lake City’s flagship solar project has cut an estimated 100,000 metric tons of climate pollution from the regional electric grid. It’s also saving our taxpayers an estimated $1 million annually. We’ll continue to lead by example in the transition to clean energy,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
Nashville, Tennessee, is rapidly scaling up its clean power generation through a combination of solar initiatives. The city has implemented rooftop solar on local government buildings and collaborated with Tennessee Valley Authority’s Green Invest program for large-scale solar.
In addition to efforts to increase renewable energy generation, Nashville also uses geothermal technology to improve energy efficiency for heating and cooling several city facilities.
Mesquite, Texas, has attracted a Canadian Solar manufacturing plant which has a production capacity of 5 GW annually — enough to power about 850,000 homes per year!
This $250 million project has generated over 1,500 new jobs in the area. By fostering industrial-scale solar manufacturing, Mesquite is positioning itself as a leader in the clean energy economy, and helping other communities across the country access home-grown clean power technology.
Boise, Idaho, is leading Idaho’s clean energy transition with a goal of achieving 100% clean electricity for all residents and businesses by 2035. With the community spending approximately $250 million annually on energy—an amount expected to more than double in the next two decades—renewable energy offers a fiscally responsible alternative.
About the Contributing Author: Evan Raskin is the National Campaign Manager for EarthDay.org
