Park City Mayor Jack Thomas has signed a measure approved unanimously by the City Council that commits Park City to transitioning to 100% clean, renewable energy.
Park City represents the 19th city in the United States to commit to 100% clean, renewable energy like wind and solar. Park City is the second city in Utah to make a 100% clean energy commitment following Salt Lake City, which passed a 100% clean energy joint resolution at its City Council earlier this year.
In response, Jodie Van Horn, Director of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign, issued the following statement:
“From the Wasatch Range to the Appalachian Mountains, winter tourism plays a vital role in the economy, the culture, and the way of life of communities across the country. Yet as snowpacks recede and droughts persist, many of these places are feeling the pinch as the threats of climate change hit home.
Today, Park City joins a growing list of ski communities across the country, from Salt Lake City to Aspen and Burlington, that are taking charge to confront this threat by transitioning to 100% clean and renewable energy.
In a state that relies on coal power for roughly 80% of its electricity, cities like Salt Lake City and Park City are showing that the transition away from fossil fuels to 100% clean energy is well underway. Congratulations to Park City and I AM PRO SNOW for achieving this important and historic commitment.”
Lindsay Beebe, Utah Organizing Representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, also issued the following statement:
“Park City is a flagship destination of Utah’s growing recreation and tourism industry, which contributes more than 5.8 billion dollars to the state’s economy and employs more than 65,000 people. Toxic air pollution from our state’s coal-fired power plants threatens our climate and clouds the views in our iconic national parks and wilderness areas, putting our outdoor recreation economy at risk.
The solution is clear – our state must transition to clean energy. Park City joins Salt Lake City in recognizing that our state’s future economic security depends on safeguarding Utah’s most valuable natural resource: our sacred public lands. By transitioning to 100% clean energy, vanguard communities like Park City are leading the way to brighter and more sustainable future for Utah.”
