Submitted
The Slocan Valley is going green! Green energy, green economy, that is.
Silverton’s Village Council has passed a resolution to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy no later than 2050, joining New Denver and Slocan in their commitment to a cleaner, healthier, safer community and a stronger economy for the Slocan Valley.
Silverton Village Council made the decision at its July 9 meeting.
“Moving to 100 per cent renewable energy is the only way we as a society will be able to continue to thrive. It’s easily as important as reliable high-speed internet and local sustainable agriculture,” said Mayor Jason Clarke.
The West Kootenay EcoSociety presented to Silverton’s village council last month, outlining the benefits of transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy and proposing the steps to support the village to develop a strategy to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050.
“We found it easy to engage with residents and businesses in Silverton. We quickly saw the support for the clean energy transition here, which is important to show council when they’re making their decision,” said Montana Burgess, West Kootenay EcoSociety executive director.
“The people and local governments of the Slocan Valley recognize the need to build resilient and healthy communities. They are bringing this global movement to the local level to tackle carbon pollution and encourage good, long lasting jobs right in their own backyard. Silverton is a special place. I think residents here want to keep it safe, beautiful and liveable for a long time to come.”
Silverton joins Slocan and New Denver in the Slocan Valley in saying yes to 100 per cent renewable energy, along with the other West Kootenay communities of Rossland, Nelson, and the Regional District of Central Kootenay, making this one of the largest geographic areas in the country to commit to the transition to clean energy. More than 9,000 people in the region have signed on for healthy communities and cleaner energy.
EcoSociety is working with these local governments to develop a West Kootenay 100 per cent Renewable Energy Plan to achieve the clean energy transition while building stronger communities. This plan is set to be released in 2020 with opportunities for residents to provide their input and ideas over the coming months.
The committment to renewable energy means by 2050 Silverton will be carbon-neutral in heating and cooling, electricity, transportation, and waste management throughout the community. Over a hundred cities in the United States have committed to 100 per cent renewable energy along with over 150 others around the world.
The West Kootenay EcoSociety will be presenting to Castlegar city council on July 15 to show the support for the renewable energy transition and ask Castlegar to consider signing on.
