A new Chicago resolution, which calls for transitioning the entire city to 100% clean, renewable energy use by 2035, would also calls for complete electrification of Chicago Transit Authority’s bus fleet by 2040.
Active Transportation Alliance
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A new Chicago resolution, which calls for transitioning the entire city to 100% clean, renewable energy use by 2035, would also calls for complete electrification of Chicago Transit Authority’s bus fleet by 2040.
Active Transportation Alliance
The Chicago City Council unanimously voted to establish the goal of transitioning the entire city to 100% clean, renewable energy, like wind and solar, by 2035. Chicago becomes the largest city in the country to make this commitment, following cities like St. Louis, Madison, Atlanta, and San Francisco.
The city’s resolution was championed by the Ready For 100 Chicago Collective, a coalition consisting of several community- and state-based organizations, including Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, Chicago Youth Alliance for Climate Action, People for Community Recovery, Respiratory Health Association, The Climate Reality Project Chicago Chapter, SEIU Local 1, Citizens Utility Board, and other environmental, education, youth, labor, and justice groups across Chicago.
The recently introduced Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act aims to move the entire state to 100% clean energy by 2050. By adopting its goal today, Chicago provides a state and national model for other communities looking to transition away from fossil fuels.
The resolution also calls for complete electrification of CTA’s bus fleet by 2040. It directs the Mayor’s Office Sustainability Team, in partnership with the Ready for 100 Chicago Collective and other community groups and stakeholders, to develop a community-wide transition plan by December 2020 for achieving 100% renewable electricity.
Chicago joins 118 other cities across the U.S. already committed to an equitable transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy community-wide, including Evanston in Illinois.
"Joining 118 other cities, Chicago stands in support of developing an energy system that seeks to fortify our city’s infrastructure, reduce disproportionate exposure to pollution and environmental toxins, and enable access to clean power for all residents," said Kyra Woods, Chicago organizer with the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Action Campaign.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
