Clayton sets aggressive green energy goal
Photo by Lisa Watson
Pinwheels representing wind power are set up at a luncheon announcing Clayton’s new green energy initiative at the Clayton Fire Station.
The city of Clayton announced Thursday that it has set a goal of becoming the first Missouri city to achieve the EPA’s Green Power Community designation.
To earn the designation, the city would need to offset 2 percent of its energy consumption, which is 670 megawatt-hours of electricity per month. Clayton Mayor Linda Goldstein said the goal is to reach that level by Earth Day, which is April 22, 2011.
Goldstein invited Clayton businesses to get involved in the program, which they can do either by installing green energy sources on-site or by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) through AmerenUE Pure Power or another provider. Residents also can enroll in the program individually.
Renewable energy credits are bought at a price associated with one megawatt-hour of green power and help reduce greenhouse gas production. The money is used to invest in the development of wind and solar energy.
“It would really set you apart from other businesses by really saying you’re doing what’s best for the environment,” Goldstein said.
Seven Clayton businesses and more than 100 residents are participating in the program so far, said Cindy Bambini, of AmerenUE. The city is already one-third of the way to its goal.
The city has produced 113 million kilowatt-hours of green energy since 2007, with 90 percent of it coming from Missouri facilities, Bambini said. That’s the equivalent of taking 15,500 cars off the road, she said.
Participating businesses include Kaldi’s Coffeehouse, Companion Bakery, the city of Clayton, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and Microgrid Energy.Email
-Lisa Watson
