Dear Wake County Commissioners,

As climate change fuels frequent and severe environmental disasters that directly impact our community, there is a lack of leadership on the climate crisis at the state and federal levels. It is up to us to take action to rapidly transition to renewable energy and to prepare for climate disasters.

Our community is already facing the impacts of the climate crisis. For example, the heatwaves we have experienced and heavy rainfall events that have impacted Wake County and are worsened by climate change.

Wake County has shown leadership on the climate crisis committing to 80% clean energy by 2035. Importantly this commitment has been backed up with positive action such as installing solar on libraries and EMS stations. However, as a county with more than 1.2 million people we can and must do more to address the climate crisis.

To meet and exceed our prior climate commitments in a manner that is just and centers the needs of our community, we urge you to place a solar bond referendum on the next ballot. The bond would authorize Wake County to borrow money to fund the installation of solar panels to power public buildings, such as schools, libraries, and EMS stations. This would offset electricity operating costs; the money saved from this effort should be allocated to improving public services and increasing pay for public service workers.

A solar bond referendum will help to prioritize the transition away from fueling the ongoing climate crisis and towards a cleaner and more cost effective future. A solar bond would make it possible for the county to complete the large-scale solar projects we need to meaningfully address the climate crisis and save the County millions of dollars in energy costs.

The residents of Wake County deserve to be heard in this important decision, just as we deserve clean air, clean water, and affordable electricity.

We don't want empty promises. We want a solar bond on the ballot.

Signed, Residents of Wake County.