Rossland city council unanimously passed a resolution Monday to run the city on 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050.
Rossland joins the West Kootenay communities of Slocan, Nelson and the Regional District of the Central Kootenay in the initiative.
“I’m proud that our small mountain community is leading the clean energy transition, and I look forward to working with other municipal leaders to build renewable energy solutions,” said Rossland Mayor Kathy Moore.
“Our mountain lifestyle, especially our ski culture, is threatened by climate change. Transitioning to clean energy is one positive step we can take.”
The West Kootenay EcoSociety had delivered a presentation to council outlining the benefits of transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy and offered to help develop a strategy for the city.
“We made sure to engage with residents and businesses in Rossland before presenting to council,” said Montana Burgess, executive director of the West Kootenay EcoSociety. “Almost 700 people have signed on in Rossland alone to support the clean energy transition, and another 8,000 in the rest of the region.”
Fully renewable energy means that by 2050 Rossland will be carbon-neutral in heating and cooling, electricity, transportation, and waste management.
More than 100 cities in the U.S. have committed to some form of 100 per cent renewable energy, along with over 150 others around the world.
Fifty per cent of Canada’s carbon pollution falls under the policy purview of municipalities, according to the EcoSociety.
“Rossland has been working towards long-term sustainability goals since our Vision to Action initiative in 2007,” said the Rossland sustainability commission’s Alexandra Loeb.
The West Kootenay EcoSociety will be presenting its renewable energy recommendation to New Denver council on Jan. 22.