Solar power has a place in Augusta right now. For instance, there are panels on the public defenders office roof, but the city is committing to go all in on renewable energy.
“It’s a climate change item that will influence the atmosphere and give us the opportunity for the next generation to have clean health,” says Charles Utley of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League.
This week Augusta Commissioners approved a resolution support a goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050
This to protect the earth and to avoid a climate catastrophe.
The resolution wants Augusta to hit 80 percent renewable energy us by 2030.
“I believe in it. I feel it’s something we need to look at for down the road that if we don’t plan long term we’ll be suffering,” says Commissioner Dennis Williams.
“I think we have to realize that there is a possibility that the things that we do affect the environment. At the end of the day, we have to do what we can to try and protect the environment as much as humanly possible,” says Commissioner Ben Hasan.
“There’s a big meeting going on in California now. They have adopted it and there are several other states that have adopted it.” said Utley.
Though 2050 is a long way off, Augusta has a long way to go, and converting to 100 percent “renewables” will come at a cost.
“I don’t think we’re going to over burden the government with the potential of doing that, I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Commissioner Hasan.
“The dividends will out see the costs but for every good thing you have to pay to get started,” said Utley.
Talking with Augusta’s facilities people today, they didn’t have a percentage right now of the city’s use of renewable energy, or the cost of going totally green. But say they support the idea and believe achieving the goal is something that could happen.
