Dear President Obama:
We, the undersigned local and state elected officials, strongly support the goal to achieve more than 50 percent clean energy by 2030, putting us on the path to 100 percent clean energy sources by 2050.
This is a necessary and achievable goal. With the implementation of the Clean Power Plan, the EPA estimates that the United States will increase our current generation of clean energy by 30 percent. This means we are already on track to generate 43 percent clean energy by 2030 by effectively implementing the Obama Administration’s policies. We appreciate the administration’s leadership supporting clean energy—and with additional leadership at the federal, state, and local levels, our country will successfully reach the 50 percent by 2030 goal.
Clean energy is an American success story. It is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the United States and already provides 360,000 jobs. The solar industry alone employs 143,000 people—more individuals than work in coal mines—and grew 20 percent in 2014. Last year a new solar project was installed every 2.5 minutes.
Transitioning to clean energy isn’t just the smart choice for growing our economy—it keeps our families healthy. According to the American Lung Association, almost half of Americans live in places where pollution levels are too often dangerous to breathe. By transitioning to clean energy, we can clear the air and reduce the health risks of pollution.
The time to act is now. Fourteen of the 15 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2000, and 2014 was the warmest ever recorded. Our communities are already feeling the growing costs of increased number of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and flooding. According to NOAA, the frequency of billion-dollar storm-related disasters has increased five percent each year since 1980.
In Paris, the United States and our global partners will offer concrete targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the most devastating impacts of climate change. However, true success in Paris—and in the days, weeks and months that follow—will come down to America’s willingness to build on the momentum from the UN talks and continue to lead the world by implementing clean energy solutions.
States, cities and businesses are already paving the way with clean energy solutions that are substantially and cost-effectively transitioning our country away from dirty fossil fuels and towards clean sources like wind and solar. As leaders responsible for America’s present and future prosperity, we must protect our communities from the dangers of climate change.
To ensure our economic prosperity, to protect our health and children, and to ensure our security and safety, we need to act now to transition our country to more than 50 percent clean energy by 2030.
Very Respectfully,
Danielle Adams
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor
Durham, NCCharles Allen
Councilmember
Washington, DC
Marti Anderson
State Representative, IA
Jesse Arreguin
Councilmember
Berkeley, CA
Don Barber
Town Supervisor
Caroline, NY
Roberta Beavers
State Representative, ME
Jim Blatchford
School Committee Vice Chair
Lawrence, MA
David Bowen
State Representative, WI
Patrick Brennan
City Councilmember
College Park, MD
Jared Brossett
Councilmember
New Orleans, LA
Nancy Bui-Thompson
Board Vice President
Sacramento Municipal Utility District, CA
Christine Burstein
State Representative, ME
Mike Carberry
Supervisor
Johnson County, IA
Gregorio Casar
City Council Member
Austin, TX
Cynthia Chase
State Representative, NH
Carol Chock
Legislator
Tompkins County, NY
John Codman III
Trustee
Ossining, NY
Ralph Cook
Councilmember
Conquest, NY
Terrence D. Culbreath
Mayor
Johnston, SC
Chad Davis
Legislator
Oneida County, NY
Kevin de León
State Senate President pro Tempore, CA
Michael Devin
State Representative, ME
Jason DiPonzio
Councilmember
Brighton, NY
David Doonan
Mayor
Greenwich, NY
Herbert Engman
Town Supervisor
Ithaca, NY
Rachael Fields
State Representative, VT
Virgil Fludd
State Representative, GA
Dr. Edmund Ford Jr.
Councilmember
Memphis, TN
Dominic Frongillo
Fmr. Councilmember
Caroline NY
Marita Garrett
Councilmember
Wilkinsburg, PA
Morgan Goodwin
Councilmember
Truckee, CA
Manna Jo Greene
Legislator
Ulster County, NY
Will Guzzardi
State Representative, IL
Alice Hausman
State Representative, MN
Alan Hew
Councilmember
College Park, MD
Jon Hoadley
State Representative, MI
Brian Hubbell
State Representative, ME
Jay Jalisi
State Delegate, MD
Shevrin Jones
State Representative, FL
Andy Josephson
State Representative, AK
John Kefalas
State Senator, CO
Kevin Killer
State Representative, SD
Vivian Kornegay
Councilmember
Albany, NY
Liz Krueger
State Senator, NY
William Lancaster
Councilmember
Richmondville, NY
Patricia Leary
Councilmember
Ithaca, NY
Daniel Lemons
Village Trustee
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Tina Liebling
State Representative, MN
Evan Low
State Assemblymember, CA
John Marty
State Senator, MN
Tim Mathern
State Senator, ND
Joyce McCreight
State Representative, ME
Elizabeth Mercer-Taylor
Councilmember
Falcon Heights, MN
Dale Miller
County Councilmember
Cuyahoga, OH
William Moehle
Supervisor
Brighton, NY
Jeri Muoio
Mayor
West Palm Beach, FL
Sharon Nelson
State Senator, WA
Alan Ominsky
Trustee
Aurora, NY
Carissa Parlato
Town Clerk
Ulysses, NY
Strom Peterson
State Representative, WA
Amy Pokorny
Councilmember
Knox, NY
Martín Quezada
State Senator and Minority Whip, AZ
Aaron Regunberg
State Representative, RI
Michael Richards
Democratic Caucus Chairman
Champaign County, IL
John Rizzo
Trustee
San Francisco Community College District, CA
Margaret Rotundo
State Representative, ME
Natalia Rudiak
Councilmember
Pittsburgh, PA
Deane Rykerson
State Representative, ME
Julie Sasso
Councilmember
Bethlehem, NY
Julianne Sharratt
Councilmember
Hartwick, NY
Carl Sherman
School Board President
DeSoto Independent School District, TX
Caroline Simmons
State Representative, CT
Earnest Smith
State Representative, GA
Art Staed
State Representative, IA
Mimi Stewart
State Senator, NM
Kate Supron
Mayor
Cayuga Heights, NY
Geran Tarr
State Representative, AK
Ann M. Thane
Mayor
Amsterdam, NY
Ryan Tipping-Spitz
State Representative, ME
Michael Unis
School Board Member
Verona, NJ
James Vogel
Councilmember
Brighton, NY
Shamann Walton
Board of Education Commissioner
San Francisco Unified School District, CA
Brandon Whipple
State Representative, KS
Das Williams
State Assemblymember, CA
Wayne Wink
Town Clerk
North Hempstead, NY
Patrick Wojahn
Mayor-Elect
College Park, MD
Michael Yantachka
State Representative, VT
Zach Young
City Commissioner
Goodlettsville, TN
Diane Addesso
Supervisor
Worcester, NY
L.W. Allstadt
Trustee
Cooperstown, NY
Antoine Archange
School Board Member
Roselle, NJ
Jacqueline Augustine
Councilor At-Large
Geneva, NY
Mandela Barnes
State Representative, WI
Roberta Beavers
State Representative, ME
Tammy Bockhorst
Trustee
Shorewood, WI
Constance Brace
Town Councilor
Skaneateles, NY
Rebecca Brenner
Councilperson
Danby, NY
Jonathan Brostoff
State Representative, WI
Dwight Bullard
State Senator, FL
Maria Cabrera
Councilwoman
Wilimington, DE
Joe Carn
Councilmember
College Park, GA
James Chang
Rent Stabilization Board
Berkeley, CA
Jay Chen
College Board Member
Mt. San Antonio Community College, CA
Deborah Cipolla-Dennis
Councilmember
Dryden, NY
Enbar Cohen
Commissioner
Aventura, FL
Christine Cook
Councilmember
Mukilteo, WA
Carla Cunningham
State Representative, NC
Henry Davis Jr.
Councilmember
South Bend, IN
James Dean
Village Trustee
Cooperstown, NY
Joseph Diamond
Trustee
Upper Nyack, NY
Asa Dodsworth
Berkeley Rent Board Commissioner
Berkeley, CA
Bill Dotzler
State Senator, IA
Luz Escamilla
State Senator, UT
Susan Fisher
State Representative, NC
Mike Foote
State Representative, CO
Jamal Fox
Councilmember
Greensboro, NC
Sean Garballey
State Representative, MA
Sara Giannoni
Councilmember
Burlington, VT
Dorothy Goosby
Councilmember
Hempstead, NY
Elizabeth Greenwood
Mayor
Tully, NY
Dayvin Hallmon
County Board Supervisor
Kenosha, WI
Stephanie Hausner
Councilmember
Clarkstown, NY
Ellie Hill
State Representative, MT
Rob Hogg
State Senator, IA
Anders Ibsen
Councilmember
Tacoma, WA
Jamie Johnson
School Board Member
Fort Valley, GA
Adrian Jordan
ANC Commissioner
Washington, DC
Mike Kasperzak
Councilmember
Mountain View, CA
Karen Keiser
State Senator, WA
Warren Kitzmiller
State Representative, VT
Kaye Kory
State Delegate, VA
Chuck Kruger
State Representative, ME
Chris Larson
State Senator, WI
Milagros Lecuona
Councilmember
White Plains, NY
Joan Lenes
State Representative, VT
Peter Lindstrom
Mayor
Falcon Heights, MN
Larry Malone
Councilmember
Oneonta, NY
Mary Lou Marzian
State Representative, KY
Nadeem Mazen
Councilmember
Cambridge, MA
Margaret McDonald
State Legislator, MT
Brandi Merolla
Councilmember
Tusten, NY
Alice Miller
State Representative, VT
Wendell Mosby
Community College Trustee
Chicago Heights, IL
Marisa Muratori
Councilmember
Lake George, NY
Andre Noo Rainey
Councilmember
Peekskill, NY
Felix Ortiz
State Assemblymember and Assistant Speaker, NY
Patrick Paschall
Councilmember
Hyattsville, MD
Marty Petrovic
Mayor
Trumansburg, NY
Peter Porcino
Mayor
Ardsley, NY
Yousef Rabhi
County Commissioner
Washtenaw County, MI
William Reinhardt
Councilmember
Bethlehem, NY
Bobbie Richardson
State Representative, NC
Martha Robertson
Legislator
Tompkins County, NY
Brian Rowland
Councilmember
Prairie View, TX
Ryan Ruelas
School Board Trustee
Anaheim, CA
Rebecca Saltzman
BART Director
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Seneca Scott
State Representative, OK
Kathy Sheehan
Mayor
Albany, NY
MaryJane Shimsky
County Legislator
Westchester, NY
Sunny Simon
Councilwoman
Cuyahoga County, OH
Alejandro Soto-Vigil
Rent Stabilization Board Commissioner
Berkeley, CA
Steven Stafstrom
State Representative, CT
Carol Stokes-Cawley
Trustee
Village of Skaneateles, NY
Scott Surovell
State Senator, VA
James Taylor
Councilmember
Winston-Salem, NC
Jeff Thigpen
Guilford County Register of Deeds
Summerfield, NC
Brian Tobin
Mayor
Cortland, NY
Susan Vaccaro
Town Clerk
Tully, NY
Zach Vruwink
Mayor
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Lea Webb
Councilmember
Binghamton, NY
Jeremy Wilber
Town Supervisor
Woodstock, NY
Shelly Willingham
State Representative, NC
Faith Winter
State Representative, CO
Cory Wolbach
Councilmember
Palo Alto, CA
J. Peter Yendell
Supervisor
Lima, NY
Sam Young
State Representative, VT
James Albis
State Representative, CT
Susan Almy
State Representative NH
Nicola Armacost
Trustee
Hastings on Hudson, NY
Robert Backus
State Representative, NH
Phil Barnhart
State Representative, OR
Pinny Beebe-Center
State Representative, ME
Ellie Boldman-Hill Smith
State Representative, MT
Darryl Brackeen Jr.
Alderperson
New Haven, CT
Cynthia Brock
City Councilmember
Ithaca, NY
Marlon Brown
Mayor Pro Tem
Mason, MI
Will Burbank
County Legislator
Tompkins County, NY
Robert Camera
Councilmember
Geneva, NY
Adam Carranza
Board Member
Mountain View Elementary, CA
John Chapman
Councilmember
Alexandria, VA
Leland Cheung
Councilmember
Cambridge, MA
J.R. Clairborne
Councilmember
Ithaca, NY
Leslie Connors
Councilmember
Town of Danby, NY
Alex Cornell du Houx
Fmr. State Representative, ME
ME
Shamaine Daniels
Councilmember
Harrisburg, PA
James Davitt
State Representative, ME
Donovan Dela Cruz
State Senator, HI
Ric Dietrich
Supervisor
Town of Danby, NY
Susanne Donnelly
Town Supervisor
Ossining, NY
Bob Eklund
Councilmember
New Lisbon, NY
Richard Farnsworth
State Representative, ME
Kevin Fitch
Town Supervisor
Scott, NY
Aaron Ford
State Senate Democratic Leader, NV
Adrienne Fraley-Monillas
Councilmember
Edmonds, WA
Catharine Gardner
Deputy Supervisor
Town of Lima, NY
Pamela Goddard
Town Clerk
Danby, NY
Cam Gordon
Councilmember
Minneapolis, MN
Jennifer Gregerson
Mayor
Mukilteo, WA
Michael Halpern
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner
Washington, DC
John Hertzler
Councilmember
Ulysses, NY
Robby Hill
Councilmember
Florence, SC
Jim Holahan
Councilmember
Danby, NY
Christine Ingrassia
Alderperson
Saint Louis, MO
Ralph Johnson
State Representative, NC
Paulette Jordan
State Representative, ID
Andy Katz
East Bay Municipal Utility District Director
Berkeley CA
Anna Kelles
County Legislator
Ithaca,
Alisa Klein
Councilmember
Northampton, MA
Gary Koutnik
County Representative
Otsego County, NY
Annie Kuether
State Representative, KS
Linda Lavine
Town Councilperson
Dryden, NY
Bonnie Leigh
Deputy Supervisor
Allen, NY
Edward T Lentz
Representative
Otsego County, NY
Pedro Marin
State Representative, CA
Cory Mason
State Representative, WI
Dewey McClain
State Representative, GA
Julian Mctizic
Councilmember
Bolivar, TN
Jeanne Mettler
Councilmember
Copake, NY
David Miramant
State Senator, ME
Jeremy Moss
State Representative, MI
Svante Myrick
Mayor
Ithaca, NY
Louise Novros
Councilmember
Brighton, NY
Kylie Oversen
State Representative, ND
Eric Payne
Community College Board Trustee
Fresno, CA
Quentin Phipps
City Treasurer
Middletown, CT
Channel Powe
School Board Member
Balsz School District, AZ
Kesha Ram
State Representative, VT
Chris Rey
Mayor
Spring Lake, NC
Larry Richardson
Councilmember
Cochecton, NY
Brandon Rose
Recreation & Park District Director
Fair Oaks, CA
Ilana Rubel
State Representative, ID
Kevin Ryan
State Representative, CT
Linda Sanborn
State Representative, ME
Seneca Scott
State Representative, OK
Tulsa, OK
Marjorie Shepardson
State Representative, NH
Peter Shrope
Supervisor
Brighton, NY
P.G. Sittenfeld
Councilmember
Cincinnati, OH
Mark Spreitzer
State Representative, WI
Dana Stein
State Delegate, MD
Daniel Sturm
Town Supervisor
Bethel, NY
Peter Swiderski
Mayor
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Peter Tecklenburg
County Auditor
Charleston, SC
Elizabeth Thomas
Town Supervisor
Ulysses, NY
Chip Troiano
State Representative, VT
Kit Van Orman
Trustee
Aurora, NY
Jenna Wadsworth
Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor
Raleigh, NC
Irene Weiser
Councilmember
Caroline, NY
Alan Williams
State Representative, FL
Rodney Wiltshire
Council President
Troy, NY
Mark Witmer
Councilmember
Caroline, NY
Thomas Wong
Water District Director
Monterey Park, CA
Gregory Young
County Supervisor
Gloversville, NY
Ken Zalewski
Council President Pro Tempore
Troy, NY
Ben Allen
State Senator, CA
Francena Amparo
Legislator
Dutchess County, NY
Joe Armstrong
State Representative, TN
Ronald Bailey
Councilmember
Meredith, NY
Thomas Basher
Deputy Mayor
Tarrytown, NY
Bonnie Bennett
Mayor
Aurora, NY
Bill Botzow
State Representative, VT
David Bradley
State Senator, AZ
Cecil Brockman
State Representative, NC
Angie Buhl O’Donnell
State Senator, SD
Autumn Burke
State Assemblymember, CA
Ann Campbell
Mayor
Ames, IA
Chris Carter
Alderperson
St. Louis, MO
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
State Senator, MO
Carl Chipman
Supervisor
Town of Rochester, NY
Drew Claxton
Deputy Mayor
Peekskill, NY
Richard Conti
President Pro Tempore and Councilmember
Albany, NY
Richard Crawford
Deputy Highway Superintendent
Grand Island, NY
Jeff Danielson
State Senator, IA
Charles Dawson
Legislator
Albany County, NY
Jim Dennis
Legislator
Tompkins County, NY
James Diossa
Mayor
Central Falls, RI
Johannah Donovan
State Representative, VT
Joyce Elliot
State Senator, AR
Paul Feiner
Town Supervisor
Greenburgh, NY
Joe Fitzgibbon
State Representative, WA
Denise Ford
Legislator
Nassau County, NY
Carina Franck
Councilperson
Otsego, NY
Carmelo Garica
State Assemblyperson, NJ
Briseida Gonzalez
School Board Member
Lynwood Unified School District, CA
Rochelle Gray
State Representative, MO
Donald Gregorius
Legislator and Majority Leader
Ulster County, NY
Rick Hansen
State Representative, MN
Paul Hessney
School Board Member
Olean, NY
Jawane Hilton
Councilmember
Carson, CA
Scott Holcomb
State Representative, GA
John Jablonski III
Village Trustee
Lakewood, NY
Matt Jones
State Senator, CO
Nicholas Josefowitz
BART Director
San Francisco, CA
Brian Kavangh
State Assemblymember, NY
Dan Kelley
State Representative, IA
Dan Klein
Legislator
Tompkins County, NY
Judd Krasher
Councilmember
Albany, NY
Martin LaLonde
State Representative, VT
Patrick Leahy
Natural Resources District Board Director
Omaha, NE
Roland Lemar
State Representative, CT
Matthew Lesser
State Representative, CT
Barbara Lifton
State Assemblyperson, NY
Nevada Littlewolf
Councilmember
Virginia, MN
John Martin
Council President
White Plains, NY
Anne-Marie Mastraccio
State Representative, ME
Curt McCormack
State Representative, VT
Ryan Mello
Councilmember
Tacoma, WA
Kevin Millar
Mayor
Owego, NY
Billy Mitchell
State Representative, GA
Joe Mullery
State Representative, MN
Elaine Nekritz
State Representative Assistant Majority Leader, IL
Mike O’Brien
Councilmember
Seattle, WA
Sharon Pace
State Representative, MO
Joshua Peters
State Representative, MO
Emma Pinter
City Councillor
Westminster, CO
Alex Pratt
School Committee Member
Littleton, MA
Jermaine Reed
Councilmember
Kansas City, MO
Craig Rice
County Councilmember
Germantown, MD
David Rivera
Councilmember
Buffalo, NY
Amy Rosmarin
Councilmember
North Salem, NY
Maxwell Ruckdeschel
Commissioner of Education
Syracuse, NY
Marjorie Ryerson
State Representative, VT
Melissa Sargent
State Representative, WI
Keisha Sean Waites
State Representative, GA
Paul Shepherd
Councilmember
Shelter Island, NY
Elissa Silverman
Councilmember
Washington, DC
Timothy Slisz
Village Trustee
Fairport, NY
Ethan Spurling
Councilmember
Frontenac, KS
Paul Stein
Councilmember
Pittsfield, NY
Mary Sullivan
State Representative, VT
Kathleen Talbot
Councilmember
Peekskill, NY
Denise Tepler
State Representative, ME
Tiffany Thomas
School Board Trustee
Alief, TX
Joel Tyner
County Legislator
NY
Greg Vitali
State Representative, PA
Fawn Walker-Montgomery
Councilmember
McKeesport, PA
Christopher Werner
Councilmember
Brighton, NY
Ann Williams
State Representative, IL
Susan Winchell-Sweeney
Councilmember
Copake, NY
Robert Wittenberg
State Representative, MI
Lydia Wright
Councilmember
Brighton, NY
Joshua Young
Commissioner
Coatesville, PA
Claire Zautke
School Board Director
Milwaukee, WI