Nelson hears pitch to switch to 100% renewable energy

The West Kootenay EcoSociety has pitched Nelson city council on setting a 100 per cent renewable energy target.

Co-executive director Fiona Galbraith says they’re asking them to take steps to reach that goal by 2050.

Galbraith says Nelson already has some advantages.

Galbraith says 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are within direct or indirect control of municipalities.

She adds a petition supporting the move has over 2,000 names, plus 40 businesses have made similar commitments.

Last week Slocan became the first municipality in the Kootenays and fifth in Canada to commit to wean itself from fossil fuels.

Next year the EcoSociety plans to approach Castlegar, Rossland, and New Denver.