BY SCOTT LEWIS

Wood River Climate Action Coalition

 The Wood River Climate Action Coalition, a group of 150 local volunteers, has launched a campaign to get the city governments of Hailey, Ketchum, Bellevue, Carey and Sun Valley to join more than 190 other cities and towns around the United States in committing to using 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2035.

 The goal: To combat climate change and create local jobs in solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy.  

 “Climate change threatens both the regional economy and the quality of life in the Wood River Valley.  It’s past time our towns and county commit themselves to a clean energy future, the first step in creating a road map to get to 100 percent renewable energy,” said Scott Runkel, one of the organizers of the campaign. 

 Boise was the first town in Idaho to commit to the non-binding pledge through an official city resolution.  Other western ski towns that have signed onto the pledge include Park City, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Taos.  A full list of all 193 towns, counties and resorts signed onto the pledge can be found on the Sierra Club website at https://www.sierraclub.org. Click on “Explore Issues.”

 The local Climate Action Coalition partnered with the Conservation Voters of Idaho and the Sierra Club and started a petition drive to express support of the 100% Clean Energy Resolution. You can sign on to the petition by going to https://www.haileycac.org and hitting the green “Petition Pledge” button.

 For more information about efforts in the valley to slow and eventually halt climate change, visit the Climate Action Coalition at https://www.haileycac.org.