City can lead by investing in clean energy

As a leader in sustainability, Mayor Bill Peduto proposed 100% clean energy for Pittsburgh in the national spotlight two years ago, declaring that Pittsburgh would run on 100% clean energy by 2035. Despite that, we have yet to see any major changes in our communities.

This past year, I met many families in Homewood while going door to door to sign them up for free energy tips and tools through the Grass Roots Green Homes program. Through conversations, I learned that a lot of our housing stock in Pittsburgh is very old and drafty. We have the opportunity to save a significant amount of money on utilities and energy if we invest in home energy efficiency for these and other low-income homes. This would lower the financial burden of many families spending 16% of their income on their utility bills — freeing money to be spent on education, healthy food and health care.

June 1 marked two years since President Donald Trump claimed to represent the people of “Pittsburgh, not Paris,” bowing out of the Paris climate agreement. In that moment, Mr. Peduto stepped into the national spotlight by claiming Pittsburgh would stick to the Paris agreement and move to 100% renewable energy. Since then, we’ve seen minimal investment in the renewable sector or reductions in our fossilfuel consumption. We still have an opportunity to lead at this anniversary. Pittsburgh should finally commit to going all-in on renewables and craft our local Green New Deal to build out a local clean energy future for all.

ABBY L. RESNICK Squirrel Hill