Orlando has also put in place a program called PACE which will provide $500 million to residents and businesses for clean energy financing. Two of the solar programs put in place currently allow residents to choose if they’d prefer their energy to come from solar, or if they’d like to opt into having solar panels on their roofs. Orlando is also requiring all new buildings to be solar-ready. The buildings are also required to have a LEED silver rating, which is a globally recognized certification for sustainability. In their report they state that currently ten-percent of Orlando’s energy comes from renewable sources, and the mayor has stated that he knows where we are, and how far Orlando has to go to reach the commitment to one-hundred percent renewable energy, that all that is left is figuring out how to get there as a community.
According to the Sierra Club, there are 6 communities in the United States that have already made the switch to 100% renewable. Aspen, Colorado; Greensburg, Kansas; Georgetown, Texas; Burlington, Vermont; Kodiak Island, Alaska; and Rock Port, Missouri have all switched their resources to 100% renewable. These cities rely on a variety of different renewable energy sources such as 100% wind, a mix of hydropower, or a mix of solar and wind.
If interested in starting a Ready For 100 movement in your community, or for more information, check out this website and click on the “I’m Ready!” button. To read more on the other 9 communities that have commited to 100% renewable, check out the Sierra Report here.