The plan’s six principles include; an energy-friendly tax reform package; additional investment in microgrids; funding for local energy plans; funding to municipal utilities or tax incentives to investor-owned utilities to modernize local grids; funding in support of local energy block grants; and restoration of federal challenge grants to incentivize smart grid efforts.
This follows the resolution adopted at the USCM Annual Meeting in June supporting cities in establishing targets of 100% renewable energy by 2035, including an emphasis on the lowest-cost mechanisms of achieving this and a call for “structured mechanisms” to include low-income citizens in the benefits.
Speaking at that meeting, USCM President Mayor Mitch Landrieu said, “We are being called upon in a chaotic moment to bring certainty, calm and sobriety to the most complicated issues facing our country. As mayors, and as we have always done, we will show up as duty calls, and will deliver every day: if we don’t produce then we haven’t succeeded. This is a group of great leaders who don’t just talk about what to do, but know how to do it – and actually get it done.”
For information: United States Conference of Mayors
Photo of Mayor Mitch Landrieu courtesy of NOLA.gov
