As people wake up to the urgency of our climate crisis, it’s becoming clearer every day that the solution will require action at every level, from global intergovernmental agreements and corporate responsibility all the way down to local governments and individual people. Fayetteville is doing its part, launching its first-in-the-state community solar program last week.

The city’s municipal utility, Fayetteville Public Works, is operating a large solar farm from which residents and businesses can buy electricity. This is vastly less expensive than installing rooftop solar panels, opening up the advantages of clean energy to thousands more people to whom it was previously out of reach.

As well as its positive effect on our climate, this program will ensure more breathable air not just for Fayetteville but across the state, as it raises demand for cleaner fuel from Duke Energy and other utilities who are considering how quickly to retire their coal-burning power plants.

This is the type of local innovation that will be needed to meet Gov. Cooper’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions statewide by 2050. The clean energy plan he recently approved from his Climate Interagency Council demands participation from not only the executive branch but the legislature, local governments, and the private sector. NCLCV hopes other cities and counties follow Fayetteville’s lead.