How long before every city is powered by renewables?

July 24, 2015 | By Jaclyn Brandt

New Bedford, Massachussetts is the latest on a growing list of cities who will be relying on renewable energy to power their residents. As the list grows, is anything less than 100 percent good enough?

The road entering New Bedford, MA. Credit: John Phelan/Wikimedia Commons

The city announced a partnership with SunEdison to purchase energy from a 4.1 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in the city. The addition brings the total of installed solar in the town to 16 MW, and will mean the city is now powering two-thirds of their city by solar. The solar plant will also supply Cape Cod Community College with electricity.

"What was once a modest local effort here in New Bedford has turned into one of the nation's most ambitious moves to adopt solar," said Jon F. Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford. "Now, in addition to the Sullivan's Ledge Solar Project and the Plymouth Solar Project, this project is quietly generating power, cutting city utility bills and saving taxpayer dollars. Our renewable power program is also strengthening our city's economy and our environment in a big way. I could not be prouder of the creativity, commitment, and teamwork of all those here who helped us reach our goals."

According to SunEdison, the move means New Bedford residents will save $30 million in the next 20 years -- the length of their power purchase agreement (PPA) with SunEdison.

Although two-thirds of the city's power is now renewable, New Bedford is hardly alone. Cities are increasingly adding renewables to their grid, and numerous cities now have even more than two-thirds renewables.

Georgetown, Texas recently committed to 100 percent renewable energy with a power purchase agreement (PPA) with SunEdison. The deal includes the construction of plants totaling 150 MW of solar in the city. Once interconnected, Georgetown will be the largest US city to be powered by 100 percent renewable city.

Burlington, Vermont also announced earlier this year a shift to 100 percent renewables -- powered by hydropower, biomass and wind. And Hawaii is now looking toward a goal of 100 percent renewable in the entire state -- by 2040.

Washington, DC just signed a deal with Iberdrola Renewables, LLC to supply the city with energy from wind -- in the largest wind power deal of its kind entered into by a U.S. city. Washington, DC's goal is to meet 50 percent renewables by 2032, and Iberdrola's 46 MW South Chestnut wind farm in Pennsylvania is helping with that goal.

Although the cities' commitments to renewable energy seem to be rare, it is becoming more and more common across the United States to be powered by renewable energy. All the commitments have happened since February 2015 -- and new cities are throwing their commitments in the ring each month. With Hawaii's new commitment, it may only be a matter of time before more states commit to the same goals.

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