WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Fourteen U.S. cities are signing on to a new renewable energy program to become less dependant on foreign energy sources.
"Cities, no matter how small, can make a difference," said Mayor David Sakrison of Moab, Utah, one of the cities that signed on to the Energy Freedom Challenge Wednesday. "Energy efficiency and conservation are critical to our futures."
Each city will be required to satisfy more than half of its electricity needs using clean energy resources such as wind, solar and bioenergy. Municipalities, consumers, government, energy providers, industry and advocates will have to work together.
Cities will compete in four different size categories, from populations less than 50,000 and up to 500,000.
The cities are: Austin, Texas; San Diego, Portland, Ore., Sacramento; Albuquerque; Eugene, Ore.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Boulder, Colo.' Santa Barbara, Calif.; Santa Monica, Calif.; Alameda, Calif.; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Willits, Calif.; and Moab.
The cities vowed to take a strong stand on clean, renewable and domestically produced energy.
