In November 2005, Mayor Will Wynn announced that Austin would be first to accept the Energy Freedom Challenge. The Mayor, in turn, challenged other mayors to enter and make it a good race.
Additional cities were recruited during the spring of 2006. A total of 14 cities answered the call, making a strong statement about the desire to bring about positive change.
The first "Green Carpet" awards ceremony is slated for early 2007. Cities closest to the 50% goal will be awarded EFC Milestone Awards. Cities achieving the greatest progress for the year earn EFC Leadership Awards.
Space is limited in EFC 2007.
To ensure your place in Year 2 of the competition, reserve a space
now. Become one of the first to claim your designation as an EFC
Freedom City.
Entering is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Reserve your space.
2. Form a local EFC team.
3. Complete and submit your entry.
To enter your city, click here.
Help us build a comprehensive database of people and organizations dedicated to expanding the use of clean energy. We need contact information for local government representatives, public and private energy providers, as well as clean energy advocacy groups and concerned individuals. Add your name.
Why create the Energy Freedom Challenge?
To accelerate the move to clean energy. The Energy Freedom Challenge (EFC) is a national race to encourage U.S. cities to achieve energy independence by obtaining over half of their city's electricity needs using clean, renewable, domestically-produced resources such as wind, solar and bioenergy, and claim the coveted title of "Clean Energy Capital of the U.S."
To hasten the retreat from environmental harm. As we increase our energy independence by increasing our use of clean, renewable energy, we will reduce greenhouse gases, and mitigate the effects of global warming and climate changes.
To celebrate progress and recognize leaders. To encourage strong participation and healthy amounts of competition and collaboration among participating cities, each year the Energy Freedom Challenge board will recognize the greatest achievements in total volume attained and rate of progress toward the Challenge goal.
To share best practices. In addition to the awards, individual cities will be recognized for their successful strategies and tactics.
What is the scope of the EFC?
The success and sustainability of the EFC depends in part on the practicality of administering such an innovative initiative. Given the differences in how communities' electricity needs are supplied – by a single municipal utility, through an electric cooperative, or by investor owned utilities – the scope of energy usage in Year 1 will be limited to the electricity purchases by local governments for their own internal and operational use.
The EFC is a long-term vision that will require a cooperative commitment from government, energy providers, consumers, and advocates to promote the greater use of clean energy.The UCS's vision for the EFC includes extending the scope of the race to review the whole community's (including governmental, residential and commercial) electricity use. Since such a comprehensive approach poses significant measurement challenges, measures will be rolled in incrementally in coming years as research and evaluation efforts deem them feasible to implement.
Specific details of the Challenge – including the definition of eligible renewable resources, awards, and the official entry form – are described in the EFC 2006 Program Requirements document available for download on the Downloads page.
Who conceived and is leading the EFC?
A local advocacy group. Solar Austin, a Texas clean energy group led by prominent members of the renewable energy community teamed with a technology-centric partner organization to conceptualize the Energy Freedom Challenge. This advocacy and technology partnership will manage all aspects of the Challenge's growth and administration – from Year 1 through the ultimate Grand Prize Awards Ceremony, many years from now.
The
nation's most revered partnership of scientists. The EFC's science
and technology partner is the prestigious Union of Concerned Scientists
(UCS), an independent, scientific body with offices in Washington DC, Cambridge,
MA and Berkeley, CA. The UCS will define all technical aspects of the EFC,
including the metrics, rules, and judging methodology and processes. The
UCS is also establishing a system to track each city’s progress in
purchasing qualifying renewable energy electricity supplies. Technical assistance
in developing the EFC program requirements was also provided by the Center
for Resource Solutions and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
Green Power Partnership.
The U. S. Department of Energy. Initial funding for the Challenge was granted by the U. S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Initiative (formerly Million Solar Roofs) program. Solar Austin was awarded $45,000 to support launch efforts (like branding, public relations and city recruitment) as well as coordination and administrative efforts (to conduct the actual Challenge itself).
Program requirements were developed and refined by the Union of Concerned Scientists, with participation and guidance by technical members of Solar Austin, the Center for Resource Solutions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The program requirements for 2006 are available for download on the Downloads page.
Learn how to enter your city.