The City of London, the historic “Square Mile” central district of London, will soon switch to clean energy in a big way. Starting in October 2018, the City of London will source 100 percent of its power needs from renewable energy sources by installing solar panels on local buildings, investing in larger solar and wind projects and purchasing clean energy from the grid. Though no longer a square mile, closer now to 1.12 square miles, the City of London is a major financial center within the city and the world. Its green energy transformation sends a clear message that London intends to take strong action against climate change.

In its plans to transform the neighborhood’s energy system, the City of London Corporation will partner with several sites throughout London, such as schools, social housing, markets and 11,000 acres of green space, at which renewable energy capacity will be installed. “Sourcing 100 percent renewable energy will make us cleaner and greener, reducing our grid reliance, and running some of our buildings on zero carbon electricity,” Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Policy and Resources Committee Catherine McGuinness said in a statement. “We are always looking at the environmental impact of our work and hope that we can be a beacon to other organisations to follow suit.”

The City of London is among the many municipalities around the world that are stepping up to fulfill the pledges made in the Paris Agreement, even when national governments are not doing enough. “By generating our own electricity and investing in renewables, we are doing our bit to help meet international and national energy targets,” McGuinness said. “This is a big step for the City Corporation and it demonstrates our commitment to making us a more socially and environmentally responsible business.”

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