Local Governments Still Driving New Energy

Local governments set record for new renewable energy procurement in 2020, groups report

Chris Teale, April 5, 2021 (Smart Cities Dive)

Ninety-five local governments across 33 states procured 3,638 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy generation capacity in 2020 through 143 deals, the largest amount of capacity ever added in one year…[The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)-World Resources Institute (WRI) Local Government Renewables Action Tracker] found 143 transactions, a 23% increase over 2019’s levels, [which] could generate enough electricity to power approximately 812,000 households annually…

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Solar was the most popular renewable energy to be procured, at 79% of all deals, followed by wind at 17% and geothermal at 4%...[T]he average size of those deals increased from 14 MW in 2015 to 26 MW in 2020…[Houston's agreement to purchase around 492 MW of off-site solar was] the largest solar procurement and largest renewable energy deal ever signed by a local government…and Los Angeles' purchase of 331 MW of wind power [was] the largest wind deal ever completed at the local level…Even with the federal government re-engaged in its efforts to reduce global warming, those involved with the research said a transition to renewable energy will be led locally…” click here for more

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