It’s more about the message than the money.

That was the signal sent this week by a majority on the Bainbridge Island City Council, which tentatively agreed to increase its participation in Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power program.

Green Power is a voluntary program offered by PSE which allows customers — including homes and businesses — to sign up and have their contributions used by the power company to buy electricity from independent outlets of clean energy, from wind, solar and bio-fuel energy producers.

The city of Bainbridge Island joined the program last year and agreed to purchase $3,000 of power per year through the Green Power program.

The city’s electric bill is roughly $330,000 a year, however, and the council considered this week bumping its participation up to a full 100 percent in the program.

That move, some on the council said, was the right thing to do and might hopefully encourage Bainbridge residents to learn more about the program and sign up.

But some on the council, notably Councilwoman Sarah Blossom and Councilman Steven Bonkowski, said they wouldn’t support an increase in the city’s participation.

Blossom doubted the city’s leadership on the issue would inspire other islanders to join in, while Bonkowski said the council should also be mindful of its role as stewards of public funds.

In our mind, however, the meagerly annual expense of the city bumping up its participation to 100 percent — estimated to cost $17,471 a year — is a wise investment in the legacy that Bainbridge will leave future generations and a strong statement of leadership.

And let’s put the $17,000 in perspective: The city has a 2015 budget of $42.5 million.

But there’s a bigger reason beyond the dollars involved.

As aptly put by Brian Anderson, chairman of Climate Action Bainbridge, “cheap electricity” from coal is polluting the environment and is the primary cause of climate change.

“Our actions are degrading the lives of millions of our future relatives,” he told the council. Bainbridge can afford to pay more, he said, “so that we are not purchasing power which poisons people and damages the world for our children and grandchildren.”

A council majority has given the island a true measure of leadership, and we hope it encourages islanders to follow and join in the Green Power program.