CHICAGO — Chicago's nearly 900 public buildings will be powered by renewable energy by 2025, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced.
Emanuel used the announcement to jab at President Donald Trump, who has said he is skeptical about climate change and ordered his administration to reverse efforts by President Barack Obama to reverse the gradual warming of the earth that scientists say will cause disasters such as floods and strong storms.
"As the Trump administration pulls back on building a clean energy economy, Chicago is doubling down," Emanuel said in a statement. "We are sending a clear signal that we remain committed to building a 21st Century economy here in Chicago.”
Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges, Chicago Park District field houses and buildings owned by the city and the Chicago Housing Authority used approximately 1.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, which is about the same amount of power used by approximately 295,000 Chicago homes.
The city said its commitment to wind and solar power will be met by buying renewable energy credits, utility-supplied renewable energy via Illinois’ Renewable Portfolio Standard and on-site generation, such as solar panels. The first purchases will begin in 2018 and 2019, officials said.
It is unclear how much the effort would cost, or how the city would pay for the initiative.
