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Environment

San Diego Mayor Joins Other Mayors Nationwide Working Toward 100 Percent Renewable Energy

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer delivers his State of the City address, Jan. 12, 2017.
Andrew Bowen
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer delivers his State of the City address, Jan. 12, 2017.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is one of four co-chairs of an initiative launched by the Sierra Club Wednesday to convince fellow U.S. mayors to adopt a goal of moving to 100 percent renewable energy.

RELATED: How Will San Diego Reach Its 100% Renewable Energy Goal?

San Diego is aiming for entirely renewable energy by 2035. Another 25 cities have adopted the 100 percent goal.

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"Clean energy isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do," Faulconer said.

"In San Diego, we brought business and environmental groups together to advance a goal of 100 percent renewable energy," the mayor said. "Since then, San Diego has become the nation's top-ranking city in solar energy capacity."

He said "going green" not only supports clean air and water, but boosts the 21st century economy.

"It makes sense for mayors across the country to work together because when we talk about the future of our planet, we're talking about the future of our communities," Faulconer said. "As a city known around the world for its beautiful environment, we look forward to showing the world how to protect it."

Philip Levine, Jackie Biskupski and Stephen Benjamin — the mayors of Miami Beach, Salt Lake City and Columbia, South Carolina — are the other co-chairs.