The city of Santa Barbara has vowed to transition entirely to clean and renewable energy.
The Santa Barbara City Council voted to establish a goal of 100 percent sustainable energy by 2030. The resolution also commits the city to transition all municipal buildings and operations to 50 percent clean energy by 2020.
City staff members are expected to develop a work plan, including financial resources and setting a timeline to achieve the goals by Dec. 31, 2018.
Currently, approximately 28 percent of the electricity provided to the city at large is deemed renewable, according to a local media outlet.
Santa Barbara is the first city on the Central Coast to make the pledge, and the resolution comes less than a week after President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from a global agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Santa Barbara is joining 29 cities nationwide that have devoted to achieving 100 percent renewable energy targets.
And 12 states and Puerto Rico have formed the U.S. Climate Alliance, which is committed to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. The states, led by California, New York and Washington, plan to reduce emissions 26 percent to 28 percent from 2005 levels.
