For decades, we have had the power to harness clean, abundant energy from the sun and the wind. In 2021, it can be done more efficiently and cheaply than ever before. Yet, the United States is still producing, consuming and wasting energy in ways that do lasting damage to our environment and our health.
It doesn’t make sense to frack for gas near schools instead of putting solar panels on their roofs; drill for oil near beaches instead of harnessing the winds that blow offshore; or burn coal, oil and gas instead of powering our homes, cars and lives with clean, renewable energy.
We can have healthier communities right now, and a livable future for generations to come — but to get there, we need to transform the way our nation produces and consumes energy.
We’re promoting a bold vision of a greener, healthier world, one powered solely by clean, renewable energy. The progress we’ve made so far, combined with advances in clean energy technology and declines in cost, present Americans with the opportunity not just to envision a clean energy future, but to take concrete steps toward it.
Our 100% Renewable campaign is focused on where we can make the most immediate progress: States, cities, and colleges and universities. State and local leadership also helps blaze the trail for nationwide action, and we’re also encouraging our national leaders to put America on track for 100% renewable energy.
Given the current challenges of our divided Congress in Washington, D.C., we need our governors, state legislators, mayors and other local leaders to lead the way on clean, renewable energy. State action yields big results: Thanks in large part to state policies Environment America and our allies have worked to secure, America produces almost four times as much renewable electricity from the sun and wind as it did in 2011.
We are spearheading the effort to convince states to commit to 100% clean and renewable energy. Within the last two years, Environment Virginia and Environment Oregon helped their states join the ranks of those committed to 100% clean or renewable electricity. These victories build on progress secured by Environment California, Environment New Mexico, Environment Washington and Environment Maine to win the approval of similar "100%" bills in their states dating back to 2018. With nine states already on board, we’re calling on leaders in ten more to pass legislation committing to go 100% renewable — setting timely targets and benchmarks to build a renewable energy future.
Where states have not yet gotten on the bandwagon, our state and local advocates and organizers are winning local progress, too. We have already helped persuade cities including Tempe, Arizona; Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; and St. Petersburg and Tallahassee, Florida, to commit to going 100% renewable.
Our researchers, advocates, members and activists have won significant progress on clean energy over the past few decades, including policies that have resulted in greater energy efficiency, more wind power and more solar power in 25 states.
Most Americans support a commitment to 100% renewable energy. Today 1 in 3 Americans lives in a community already committed to 100% clean or renewable power. For the environment and our health, states and cities should continue to set their sights on the future we need.
America’s over 5,000 universities, colleges and community colleges are big energy consumers, with large buildings, many of which are open 24/7. At the same time, college campuses are largely self-contained communities, and therefore better able to find ways to generate all the power they need from clean, renewable sources — especially given the expertise among their faculty and the enthusiasm among their students for going green.
We played an important role in persuading the University of California system, Cornell University, Boston University and Vanderbilt University to commit to 100% renewable electricity, and nearly two dozen colleges have made similar commitments to date.
Through our partnership with the Student PIRGs, we’re helping students at over a dozen campuses from coast to coast to encourage their schools to take action for 100% renewable energy. More than 950 faculty members from across the country have supported our efforts — many of whom will prove to be valuable allies when we ask local and state government leaders to consider taking similar action.
Robert F. Kennedy once said that each time we stand up for an ideal, we send forth a “tiny ripple of hope.”
Imagine ripples of energy emanating from each new campus or each new city or town that commits to 100 percent renewable power. Imagine these ripples converging into a great current that reaches every corner of our country and shines a beacon of hope to the rest of the world. That’s what this campaign is all about.
Want to get involved with our 100 percent campaign?
Add your voice and join our One Million for 100% Renewable Energy project. This growing community of changemakers demonstrates the vast support for a renewable energy future, giving them the resources they need to take coordinated action on the path to 100 percent.
