Nearly One-Third of Montco Community Commits to Clean Energy Future

As alarm bells grow louder about climate change caused by fossil fuels, communities across the country are beginning the transition to a clean energy future.

Montgomery County has reached a significant milestone in this regard. At a recent public meeting, Lower Providence Parish committed to gradually transitioning to 100 percent clean, renewable energy for its electricity consumption by 2035, and for all sectors (heat, transportation) by 2050. It was the 19th municipality in the county to adopt these or similar goals as part of the Ready for 100 – Montgomery County initiative.

Ready for 100 is a nationwide movement of Sierra Club members working to realize the vision of communities powered by 100% clean, renewable energy.

Since 2018, the Ready for 100 team has helped Montgomery County municipalities adopt and meet emissions reduction goals to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035, achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in all other sectors by 2050, and establish policies and programs to upgrade local infrastructure to facilitate the transition to 100 percent renewable energy.

Half of Montco’s population lives in communities that strive for a fossil fuel-free future.

Gary Neights, a Lower Providence councilman, said he was proud of the borough for “taking action” to reduce the impact of hydrocarbons.

“This is a continuation of actions our borough has taken in recent years, including passing a Sustainability Resolution in 2019, establishing an Environmental Advisory Council in 2020, adding sustainability best practices to the Comprehensive Plan in 2023, and now committing to transitioning to 100 percent clean energy in Lower Providence by mid-century,” Neights said.

Douglas White, a longtime member of the Lower Providence Environmental Advisory Council that pushed for the clean energy resolution, agreed.

“This is a collaborative and iterative process. The next step is to develop an Energy Transition Plan that we can all live with—residents, businesses, and local governments,” White said. “Going green is more than a slogan about recycling; it’s a comprehensive program to achieve sustainability goals that not only save money and offset carbon emissions, but are a commitment to our children’s future and the survival of the planet.”

Commitment to clean energy

The 19 municipalities that have implemented clean energy ordinances are: the electoral districts of Ambler, Bridgeport, Conshohocken, Hatboro, Narberth and Norristown; and the boroughs of Abington, Cheltenham, Lower Gwynedd, Lower Merion, Lower Providence, Montgomery, Plymouth, Springfield, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, West Norriton, Whitemarsh and Whitpain.

Several of these municipalities have developed energy transition or climate action plans, and some have already made significant investments in clean energy, such as adding hybrid and electric vehicles to the city’s fleet, installing solar and geothermal heat pumps in municipal facilities, and, in the case of Lower Providence, ensuring that sustainability is a core design principle in the new municipal complex.

Meanwhile, the Montgomery County Planning Commission is working on a Climate Action Plan that will provide a framework for municipalities.

The feds recently introduced incentives, including a 30 percent reduction in the cost of installing solar, making it a great time to invest in clean energy.

For more information on how your municipality can get involved in the fight for a cleaner future, please email [email protected]

This article was submitted on behalf of Ready for 100 Montgomery County, a volunteer group of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club.