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Sustainable Resilient Longmont Launch

A local non-profit organization is launching their campaign this Saturday which urges Longmont officials to commit to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

A local non-profit organization is launching their campaign this Saturday which urges Longmont officials to commit to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

The Sustainable Resilient Longmont group (SRL) have already been out in the community spreading their message to encourage a greener future for local energy sources. The group have attended the Longmont Farmers market to talk to people about their cause and to have residents sign their pledge in support of the efforts. SRL also staged a rally this past Tuesday, June 13th outside the Longmont City Council building on the night of the Council meeting to make their voices heard and look for more support.

The official launch of SRL's campaign will take place this Saturday, June 17th 3 pm until 6 pm at 300 Suns Brewing, 335 First Ave., Longmont. The 'Ready for 100' Campaign Launch Party will feature speeches by local elected officials as well as live music and appetizers.  Guests planning on making speeches are state Reps. Jonathan Singer and Mike Foote as well as state Sen. Matt Jones and Longmont Councilwomen Joan Peck and Polly Christensen.

SRL's flyer (www.srlongmont.org)

SRL are working in partnership with the Sierra Club Ready for 100 campaign, another environmental based group who are looking to get the whole of Colorado running on 100% renewable energy. The two groups working together put forward the following reasons on their websites as to why they think pushing for change is so important.

"A transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency presents one of the greatest economic opportunities of the 21st century. Colorado is a renewable energy treasure chest, with a wealth of resources including wind and 300 plus days of sunshine. All of the energy needed to power homes and businesses can come from clean sources. Stanford scientists say the transition to 100 percent clean energy will save the average family more than $200 dollars per year in energy costs and another$1,500 per year in health care costs."

The groups use the example of Aspen, as a city that has already successfully made the change, in convincing skeptics that 100 % renewable energy is achievable for Longmont.

"Steve Skadron, the mayor of Aspen, who saw that Aspen’s snow and tourism industry were threatened by climate change and decided to take action. He developed a bold clean energy vision, created a citywide plan to back it up, and in just a few years moved Aspen to 100% clean energy sources -- inspiring other cities to do the same. Today, Aspen is powered entirely by a mix of wind, solar, and hydropower: clean, local, and economical"
If you would like to find out more you can view SRL's website here.