Could Columbus see 100% clean energy by 2040? Local coalition asks city leaders to commit

Columbus could be the eighth city in Georgia to commit to reducing city emissions and addressing climate change.

Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin asked city leaders Tuesday to agree to form a plan to being fully powered by clean energy by 2020.

Goodwin was backed by dozens of Clean Energy Columbus (CEC) members, who wore their CEC emblems. Some spoke directly to Mayor Skip Henderson and City Council about why the Columbus should commit to a clean energy plan.

This is part of a movement in the U.S. for cities to act on reducing emissions. President Biden has set the goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and net zero emissions economy no later than 2050.

Mayor and council have two weeks to research and debate until they vote on August 22.

“There are seven cities in Georgia who have adopted a clean energy resolution,” Louisa Childs, founding member of CEC. “Some have been more successful than others and that is due to the presence of a plan.”

A Columbus native, a lawyer and a concerned parent, Childs was joined by Troy Keller, a Columbus State University environmental science professor. Together they formed the CEC organization last year. Goodwin has worked with CEC over the past year and noted that the resolution has been vetted by them.

“The goal of this initiative is to demonstrate our commitment to clean energy, reduce our energy burden, and become one of the greenest cities in the South,” Goodwin said. Additionally, the resolution hopes to, “create a mayor’s commission on sustainability, and consider a sustainability coordinator.”

The daunting realities of climate change were tangible in the council chamber, especially when Keller, who is in his fifties, spoke about the science and the state of the climate today

“In my lifetime, greenhouse gasses have risen by more than 25%,” he said.” The global average temps have risen by 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Students I have are worried.”

Childs said that action by the city is the answer to individual worry about climate change.

“It’s hard to know as an individual [what to do] but with city leadership, what we can do as a city is powerful,” she said.

Keller suggested by moving in the suggested direction, Columbus could attract new jobs and establish itself as a community that adapts to the changing world.

“We can’t fix the climate alone but we definitely can change the nature of things here,” she said.

Muscogee County had 407,600 metric tons of commercial emissions in 2022. This comes in third after transportation and residential emissions, according to Drawdown Georgia, a Georgia-based climate solutions organization.

This resolution intends to address mainly the commercial sector of emissions not residential.

For comparison, Savannah in Chatham County recorded 735,800 metric tons of CO2 in 2022. Savannah City Council voted to adopt a resolution in 2020.

Childs says that Savannah is an excellent model to study.

“They are in the implementation phase of their commitment,” Childs said,

Savannah has committed to being 100% powered by renewables by 2035. The city agreed on a Solar Energy Procurement Agreement (SEPA), where solar panels will be installed at no upfront cost. Columbus has a population of around 200,000 people and Savannah has a population of around 150,000.

Keller believes the resolution is intended to focus on how the city operates.

“This is something the city can control relatively easily,” he said. “Where they buy their electricity, where they get it from, and controlling efficiency, etc. all things they can control,” he said.

Where council members stand

Though the presentation was purely educational, Councilman Bruce Huff of District 3 expressed his eagerness during the presentation. It was met with applause from the CEC crowd.

“I will happily sponsor this,” said Councilman Huff. “I’m excited.”

Henderson explained he would like a clear direction before committing to a resolution.

“There are a lot of cities in Georgia who have adopted a resolution,” he said. “There was a conscious effort by this government not to put forward a resolution until we felt like we had a path. We don’t want a resolution with no direction.”

Councilwoman Charmaine Crabb and Councilman Tyson Begly are still researching and declined to answer how they intend to vote.

Council members Judy Thomas, Toyia Tucker, and Joanne Cogle did not respond to the Ledger-Enquirer’s request for how they plan to vote in time for publication.

Childs encourages the public to reach out to their members with support and any questions they have between now and the 22nd.