Today’s communities are becoming more and more environmentally conscious. Thus, they are turning to renewable power options and “going green”. Many of America’s largest cities are using electricity that comes from solar, wind, geothermal and hydro energy sources. The following are the top cities for renewable energy use, according to a recent poll.

1. Oakland, California: Oakland landing in the number one spot due to 17% of the city’s energy being produced by solar, wind and geothermal sources. Some of the wind power throughout the city is created by one of the largest wind power facilities in the country at Altamont Pass.

2. Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose, California: These three cities tied for second place with 12% of their energy coming from renewable sources.

3. Portland, Oregon: Portland currently has 10% of its energy coming from renewables.

4. Boston, Massachusetts: Currently Boston operates with 8.6% of its energy being “green”.

5. San Diego, California: San Diego reported 8% of its city’s energy comes from renewable power outlets.

Experts think California has such high rates of renewable energy use due to the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard which was set in 2002. This standard set requirements for utility purchases of renewable energy for the state’s electric grid.

Part of this standard mandates that California must be up to a 20% renewable energy total for state utilities by 2020. Other cities across the country have also set goals for the increase of their renewable energy use. Chicago wants to hit the 20% mark by 2010 and Portland would love to be 100% renewable energy by 2010.