Solar Cities Lead the Way

 

The Moscone Convention Center in downtown San Francisco has a 675 kW solar installation on its roof, one of the nation's largest municipally-owned solar generation installations. The funding is through a voter-approved initiative and partnership with the S.F. Public Utilities Commission. The solar electrical system can produce enough power for 550 homes annually. S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom is at left.

In June 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated 13 cities “Solar America Cities.” In March 2008, DOE added another 12 cities to the list and said it would provide those 12 cities with up to $2.4 million to advance their solar energy initiatives. Combined with industry cost sharing and funding from each city, total investment for all 12 cities is estimated at $12.1 million.

DOE will also provide hands-on assistance from technical experts to help the cities integrate solar technologies into energy planning, zoning and facilities. DOE aims to help streamline local regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and businesses. It will also present solar financing options and promote solar technology among residents and local businesses through outreach, curriculum development and incentive programs. Technical assistance is estimated at $3 million (FYs 2008, 2009), subject to appropriations from Congress.

These cities, says DOE, are “using innovative approaches to remove market barriers to solar and to encourage adoption of solar energy technologies at the local level.”

The new solar city of San Antonio, for instance, is home to the largest solar energy project in Texas, a redevelopment, mixed-use project at the former Pearl Brewery. CPS Energy is working with the developers to install a $1.35 million, 200-kilowatt photovoltaic system on one of Pearl’s roofs.

The Solar America Cities program has involved over 180 organizations, including municipal, county, and state agencies, solar companies, universities, utilities and nonprofits.

These efforts are in keeping with the Solar America Initiative, which aims to make electricity from solar photovoltaics cost-competitive with conventional electricity by 2015.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s 25 “Solar America Cities”

Ann Arbor
Austin
Berkeley
Boston
Denver
Houston
Knoxville
Madison
Milwaukee.
Minneapolis-St. Paul
New Orleans
NYC
Orlando
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.
Sacramento
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
Santa Rosa, Calif.
Seattle
Tucson

For particulars on the solar activities of each of the 25 solar cities, visit https://solaramericacities.energy.gov/Cities.aspx