Traverse City wants to get all its electricity for city operations from clean, renewable energy sources by 2020, according to a resolution passed unanimously by the City Commission on Monday.
The resolution calls for using wind, solar, geothermal, and landfill gas to meet 100% of its electricity needs for city buildings, operations, and street lights.
According to City Commissioner Tim Werner, the city accounts for 3 to 4% of total electricity use in the Traverse City area.
Werner says the goal established by the resolution is a first step. He says the city wants to be a leader and an example for city businesses and residents to move to renewable energy.
"I believe there is a political will and wide support within our local community to pursue renewables," said Werner.
Werner says shifting to renewable energy will create jobs and reduce pollution.
The adopted resolution refers in part to two findings of the Michigan Public Service Commission's 2016 annual renewable energy report.
The first is that the combined cost of renewable energy and energy efficiency is less than any new generation of energy. And second, the cost of renewable energy contracts continues to show a downward pricing trend.
