WHEREAS, Renewable energy production can enable the City to reduce its dependence on fossil energy, reduce its carbon footprint, and conserve monetary resources; and
WHEREAS, A shift towards a more renewable City can occur through many actions including solar or low energy homes and buildings, hydroelectric and wind generation and procurement actions that source regionally produced renewable energy to power municipal lights and buildings; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has embarked on a plan to become the greenest city in America by 2015, committing to increase the City's use of renewable energy from solar, biogas, wind and hydroelectric sources to 20% by that time; and
WHEREAS, Renewable energy technologies also produce regional jobs while limiting the importation of energy from other nations; and
WHEREAS, The leading cities in renewable energy could have an advantage in any upcoming federal or state regulations aimed at regulating or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions or developing renewable energy standards; and
WHEREAS, Other cities including Oakland, California, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose, lead the nation with up to 17 percent of electricity being produced by energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal energy and others like Chicago and Portland have more aggressive goals; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia due to its size and geographic location is uniquely positioned to greatly benefit from its readily available alternative energy sources; and
WHEREAS, Movement towards a renewable-energy future will require great levels of commitment from the City, its government and citizenry; and
WHEREAS, There are various means and methodologies which the City can employ to help it realize its alternative energy goals, and it would be in the City's best interest to explore as many viable options as necessary; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it be authorized to issue a request for ideas and proposals on how the City can best employ its available natural resources as sources of alternative energy for the benefit of the City's infrastructure, businesses, and residents.
End