The resolution calls on municipal operations in Tampa to use completely renewable energy by 2035, along with zero-carbon emission public transportation, and future monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions- along with other green energy goals.
It also calls on City of Tampa leadership to urge the State of Florida and the Federal Government to enact and enforce bold state and federal level policies to end the extraction and use of fossil fuels, eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, and build out the transportation and energy infrastructure necessary for a one hundred percent clean, renewable energy transition.
The resolution takes effect immediately. With this, Tampa joins neighboring St. Petersburg (which committed to Ready for 100 in 2019) and 180 cities across the country in making the move toward green energy.
After the vote, Citro thanked all of those involved in the creation of the resolution, including the Tampa Bay Climate Alliance and his fellow city officials.
“I wish it could have been unanimous,” Citro said during the city council meeting. “The true authority on this will be the administration as the executive power, however, we can take steps along the way, approving different things for the budget, making our requests known.”
Only councilmember Charlie Miranda voted against the resolution. He explained his vote with a screed about personal responsibility, saying that those speaking in favor of the resolution should not ask what their government can do for them, but what they can do for their government.
“Show me what you have done yourself to solve this problem,” Miranda said to those who presented the resolution. “I’ll tell you that they have not done much.”
More than 20 environmental activists spoke in favor of the resolution during the public comment segment of the meeting, pointing out years of hard work to move the City of Tampa toward renewable energy.
Environmental magazine Grist points out that the resolution is non-binding, and “more of a North Star for the city than a mandatory policy.”
But Brooke Errett, Florida Senior Organizer with Food and Water Watch says the crucial aspect is in the language and intent of the resolution. Errett leads the working group within the Tampa Bay Climate Alliance that helped draft the original resolution.
“Most importantly is that it sets an agenda and a firm goal and has an official call to action,” Errett told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
On Thursday morning ahead of the vote, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor posted to Facebook in support of Tampa’s resolution, saying that clean energy is key to lowering electric bills, reducing pollution and avoiding the harsh impacts of the climate crisis.
“Plus, local communities can reduce costs for families and businesses when they implement energy efficiency measures and tap renewable sources,” Castor wrote. “That’s why I wholeheartedly support the City of Tampa moving to 100% renewable as soon as possible. Thank you Councilman Joseph Citro, for helping lead efforts in Tampa for climate action.”
Send anonymous news tips to cltampabay_tips@protonmail.com. Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team works tirelessly to bring you news on how coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter.
This article appears in Aug 12-18, 2021.