Without action today, climate change will continue to threaten our tomorrow.

Electricity generation is the leading cause of air pollution in the U.S. Each day, we’re dumping 110 million tons of manmade global warming pollution into the atmosphere. Of all the energy-intensive processes that Americans depend on for our survival, buildings account for nearly 40% of CO2 emissions.

Our reliance on the energy of the past poses a direct threat to the economic development, energy security and health of our communities and planet. Yet 83% of Americans in a recent study agreed that a fully renewable world is important. Together, we have the power to shift the tide.

But the window of opportunity to reverse the damage of man-made global warming is quickly closing. To secure our healthier, more resilient future, urban communities must act today.

Clean energy is a powerful vehicle for economic development, saving organizations 20% or more on their energy costs. Solar grids and microgrids give us the power to create all the power we need on-site, removing a dangerous reliance on other countries and other forces for our energy. But through clean energy, we don’t simply take control of our own energy independence. We also take our communities’ health into our own hands, reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions that threaten the wellbeing or our people and planet.

We’re at a tipping point in a crisis that demands bold action. That’s why we’re driven to install 1 MW of solar plus storage in each of Chicago’s 50 wards. Implementing 50 MW of solar would mitigate 44,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in the city we call home—the equivalent to carbon emissions from more than 9,300 passenger cards or 6,500 homes.

We each have the power to leave a legacy of environmental stewardship and economic impact. Each day, we’re building a courageous community of Chicagoans who are taking a bold step toward resiliency. But the climate crisis demands each of us to step up now. Which legacy will you choose?