FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3, 2018
Contact: Peter Nierengarten
Director of Sustainability & Parking
Sustainability Department
479.575.8272
pnierengarten@fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville Approves Arkansas’s First Energy Action Plan and 54th U.S. City to Adopt 100 Percent Clean Energy Goal
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —On Tuesday, Jan. 2, Fayetteville City Council voted 7-1 to adopt the City’s first Energy Action Plan. The Energy Action Plan (EAP) provides a framework for the City’s ongoing efforts to be a resource- and energy-efficient community. The plan – which addresses local effects of climate change, energy efficiency efforts, and clean energy production – is the first of its kind to be adopted in Arkansas. Fayetteville is the 54th city in the United States to adopt a goal of 100 percent community-wide clean energy.
“Fayetteville has shown leadership in climate change adaptation and mitigation in a variety of ways,” said Mayor Lioneld Jordan. “We purchased 100 shares of solar energy panels from Ozarks Electric Cooperative, installed electric vehicle charging stations, signed onto national commitments for clean energy and emissions reduction, continued promoting energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses, and much more. The Energy Action Plan is another bold step in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of life for all Fayetteville citizens, present, and future.”
City staff, University of Arkansas staff, community leaders, expert stakeholders, utility company representatives, and City administration worked collaboratively to develop the plan. The EAP includes goals, strategies, and action items to improve Fayetteville’s economic, environmental, and social stability. Long-term goals of the plan include encouraging resilient local businesses, improving public health, promoting a culture of innovation, and leaving a legacy of stewardship for future Fayetteville residents.
The plan is organized around community-wide reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and community-wide clean energy supply. The plan’s goals are a 40 percent reduction in GHG by the year 2030 and an 80 percent reduction in GHG by the year 2050, from a baseline year of 2010. These goals are consistent with the We Are Still In pledge signed by Mayor Lioneld -Jordan in June 2017, which commits to reducing GHG emissions in Fayetteville in line with the Paris Climate Agreement targets. The We Are Still In pledge goals have been adopted by cities, states, businesses, investors, and universities across the United States. The EAP also sets 100% clean energy commitments for the City that align with Mayor Jordan’s pledge to the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100% Clean Energy Campaign for Cities.
To read the Energy Action Plan or learn more about Fayetteville’s climate and energy initiatives, visit www.fayetteville-ar.gov/energyactionplan.
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