The mayor’s veto

How sad to read that Spokane’s mayor is out of step on the city’s commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030; a commitment by the City Council, supported by a huge array of citizens’ groups and businesses — including Avista, no less.

Instead, the mayor aligns with out-of-town money, concocting falsehoods about vastly rising electricity rates without showing any evidence for his claims. Then he says the renewables goal will be met entirely by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits rather than by generating clean power, which is also untrue.

Fast-growing wind already provides our lowest-cost electricity, and ever-cheaper solar will undercut even that within five years. Meanwhile, coming state legislation for community solar will open up the generation market, further cutting costs. Eastern Washington is ideal for both solar and wind, and this ordinance will create demand to build it.

The mayor claims that 100 percent renewable electricity is “unattainable,” yet six American cities have already reached their 100 percent-renewable goals, while 72 others (and two states) have pledged to follow soon. Spokane’s electricity is already 56 percent renewable. With a head start like that, are we so incapable of doing what other cities already are doing?

What kind of leadership is this?

David Camp

Spokane