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11.04.2017

Chicago – Public buildings in Chicago will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Mayor Rahm Emanuel calls this a clear signal that the city is committed to renewable energy.

Chicago’s mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced that the city will power all of its public buildings with renewable energy by 2025. This will make the Windy City the largest major city in the US to have 100 per cent renewable energy for its public buildings.

“By committing the energy used to power our public buildings to wind and solar energy, we are sending a clear signal that we remain committed to building a 21st century economy here in Chicago,” Emanuel said.

Collectively, the public buildings in Chicago used nearly 1.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2016, amounting to eight per cent of all electricity use in the city. This is equivalent to powering around 295,000 Chicago homes.

Chicago has already taken considerable strides in recent years to embrace renewable energy and build what it calls “a 21st century economy”. 

For instance, Emanuel made Sunday's announcement on the rooftop of the Shedd Aquarium, which has already installed over 900 solar panels in a bid to reduce its energy use by 50 per cent by 2020. 

And in 2013, the city eliminated coal from the over 1 billion kilowatt hours in electricity that it buys each year.