Red Bank Adopts Bold New Clean Energy Ordinance

For Immediate Release
 

RED BANK, NJ - The Red Bank Council voted tonight in favor of an ordinance that will put the borough on a path to transition its residents and businesses to 100% renewable electricity sources by the end of the decade.

The ordinance creates a new municipal energy aggregation program -- in effect giving residents a ‘bulk buying’ discount on their electricity bills. The program sets guidelines about the sources of that electricity, reaching the 100 percent renewable energy threshold by the year 2030. 

“I am proud to announce the Borough of Red Bank will achieve 100% clean energy by 2030.  As climate change threatens our vulnerable coastal communities, Red Bank’s future and the future of the Jersey Shore is under siege,” said Councilwoman Kate Triggiano. “It is our responsibility as elected officials to protect the environment, and this bold action by our Council will ensure the Borough of Red Bank will be a leader in the fight for a healthy and resilient future.”

“Creating a clean energy aggregation program is a simple, effective step that municipalities can take right now to clean up air pollution and take real action to confront the climate crisis,” said Food & Water Watch Clean Energy Canvass Director Charlie Kratovil. “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.”

By taking this bold action, Red Bank joins the growing movement of towns and cities who are leading the movement to get off fossil fuels and onto a healthier future powered by clean energy. And the benefits of this particular program will extend beyond one town: Red Bank is serving as the lead municipality in the Sustainable Monmouth Alliance, a group of other municipalities that will join the program once it is established. 

“The Red Bank Environmental Commission is pleased that 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.

Food & Water Watch is working in 15 municipalities to enact similar 100% renewable energy programs. The group played a key role in creating programs in New Brunswick and Piscataway, saving residents’ on their utility bills while expanding the use of clean, renewable energy. This summer, the campaign won a major victory in Edison, where the township’s council approved 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 & Water Watch to pass a similar clean energy ordinance in Collingswood.

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