As the dawn broke on a cold and sunny Wednesday morning in Arkansas, Fayetteville became the first city in the state to commit to using all renewable energy in its municipal operations.
The announcement came after the City Council voted to adopt an energy action plan including a goal of powering all city government operations with 100 percent clean energy by 2030.
The plan also includes a goal of powering every Fayetteville home and business with renewable power by 2050.
A copy of Fayetteville's comprehensive Energy Action Plan can be seen here.
In adopting the plan, Fayetteville became the 54th city in the United States to officially set a 100 percent renewable energy goal, and the initiative drew praise from environmentalists.
"The Sierra Club applauds Fayetteville today for this tremendous step forward," said Glen Hooks, director of the Arkansas Sierra Club.
Hooks praised Mayor Lioneld Jordan, the City Council, "the superb public servants in the city's Sustainability Department" and predicted that Fayetteville will be only the first of many Arkansas cities to eventually go all renewable.
"Fayetteville has shown leadership in climate change adaptation and mitigation in a variety of ways," Jordan said. "We've installed electric vehicle charging stations around the city, signed onto the Sierra Club's 'Mayors for 100% Clean Energy' pledge, promoted energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses, and much more."
Jordan said the energy plan is just one step in the city's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions "and improve the quality of life for all Fayetteville citizens, present and future."
