BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- Mayors across the nation are in Boston Thursday attending the International Climate Summit and Mayor Marty Walsh s calling on his counterparts and other cities to join in on clean energy.
Walsh announced a new initiative to seek pricing on large scale renewal energy projects.
"If successful, this would save cities including Boston millions of dollars it would create more middle class clean energy jobs than any other project in the history of the United States," Walsh said.
With a handful of other cities already on board the mayor is looking for information on how much electricity cities will use and how much green energy they want by 2040.
He says that information gathered will compile the energy demand data across participating U.S. cities and ask renewable energy developers for price estimates for projects that would meet their collective energy demand.
"We're not asking for a commitment to the project over the summer will be collecting data and get free estimates from vendors then will understand the costs and benefits of renewable energy projects and their size," he said.
Walsh also took aim at President Trump for backing out of the Paris Climate agreement claming he is trying to bring the United State backwards when it comes to climate change,
"To us this is not a political football this is about the immediate health and well being of our constituent and neighbors," he said.
Mayors understand the importance of this issue.
"Cities wield the power to create demand and transform the energy market - and when we act together, we can show the world that environmental stewardship and economic prosperity go hand in hand," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "As a chair of Climate Mayors, I'm proud to stand beside Mayor Walsh in the work of amplifying the role of cities and upholding the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement." Garcetti said.
Officials tell WBZ NewsRadio that The City of Boston hopes to finalize the list of participating cities and issue a request for information later this summer. They say that if successful, a large-scale purchase of renewable energy will help power these cities, save money, and offset carbon emissions.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Ben Parker reports.