RED BANK – The Borough Council has adopted an ordinance that will put Red Bank on a path to transition its residents and businesses to 100% renewable electricity sources by the end of the decade, according to Food and Water Watch.
The ordinance creates a new municipal energy aggregation program; in effect giving residents a “bulk buying” discount on their electricity bill. The program sets guidelines about the sources of that electricity, reaching the 100% renewable energy threshold by 2030, according to a press release from Food and Water Watch.
The ordinance was adopted on Oct. 14.
“I am proud to announce Red Bank will achieve 100% clean energy by 2030,” Councilwoman Kate Triggiano was quoted as saying in the press release.
“As climate change threatens our vulnerable coastal communities, Red Bank’s future and the future of the Jersey shore is under siege. It is our responsibility as elected officials to protect the environment, and this bold action by our council will ensure Red Bank will be a leader in the fight for a healthy and resilient future,” Triggiano said.
“Creating a clean energy aggregation program is a simple, effective step municipalities can take right now to clean up air pollution and take real action to confront the climate crisis,” Food and Water Watch Clean Energy Canvass Director Charlie Kratovil was quoted as saying in the press release.
“This is a huge win for Red Bank and a meaningful step forward in the fight to stop the climate crisis. We will keep helping to build local campaigns to achieve 100% clean, renewable energy by 2030 across New Jersey,” Kratovil said.
According to the press release, by taking the action, Red Bank joins municipalities that are leading the movement to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels and onto a healthier future powered by clean energy.
“The Red Bank Environmental Commission is pleased Red Bank is the lead agent in the Community Energy Aggregation (CEA) program with a commitment to achieve 100% clean energy by 2030. This is an important step in addressing climate change. We hope our neighboring towns will join our CEA and others will follow Red Bank’s example,” said Nancy Blackwood, chair of the Red Bank Environmental Commission.
According to the press release, Food and Water Watch is working in 15 municipalities to enact similar 100% renewable energy programs.
The group helped to create programs in New Brunswick and Piscataway. During the summer, the campaign won a victory in Edison, where the Township Council adopted an ordinance that puts the fifth largest township in New Jersey on the path to 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Earlier this month, local residents teamed up with Food and Water Watch to pass a similar clean energy ordinance in Collingswood, according to the press release.