Orien letter: Clean energy

Clean energy brings jobs to Boise. When employers seek to expand their business to another city, two top considerations (just after education and the cost of doing business) are the quality of that city’s environment and that city’s leadership in keeping their city a healthy place to live. (Despite ongoing rhetoric, having the lowest taxes is not even in the top five considerations.) Companies want to invest in urban areas that will prioritize clean air and water, as well as transportation options that keep their workers free from tiring commutes in the car. City leadership for clean energy is also a sign that a given urban area will remain livable and viable in the future. The city of Boise now has the opportunity to join other vibrant metro areas such as San Diego and Austin to commit to a 100 percent clean energy goal. By resolving to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2035 the city will help eliminate at least one dirty-coal plant and give strong momentum to a growing solar industry in Southwest Idaho. Such a goal may also further the expansion of clean mass transit and of electric vehicles in the city. All of this means more good-paying jobs for Idaho.

This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 12:06 AM with the headline "Orien letter: Clean energy."