U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced at the New Frontiers in Energy Summit on March 28 that DOE will provide up to $2.4 million to 12 cities ($200,000 each) as part of the Solar America Cities program. The program is an activity of the Solar America Initiative and is designed to provide support to cities that are ready to take a comprehensive, systemic, city-wide approach to solar technology that facilitates mainstream adoption and provides a model for other cities.
Cities selected in the Solar America Cities program receive financial and technical assistance to develop a city-wide solar implementation plan to:
- Integrate solar technologies into city energy planning, zoning and facilities
- Streamline city-level regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and local businesses (e.g. permitting, inspections, local codes)
- Promote solar technology among residents and local businesses (e.g., outreach, curriculum development and/or implementation, incentive programs, etc.)
The newly selected cities are listed below. Profiles of these cities are available in the report 2008 Solar America Cities Selection (PDF).
- Denver, Colorado
- Houston, Texas
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota
- Orlando, Florida
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sacramento, California
- San Antonio, Texas
- San Jose, California
- Santa Rosa, California
- Seattle, Washington
In addition to receiving $2.4 million in financial assistance, these cities will receive technical assistance estimated at $3 million (subject to Congressional appropriation). Combined with industry cost share and funding from each city, the total investment in the 12 cities is approximately $12.1 million.
The 12 newly selected cities join an initial group of 13 cities (listed below) that were selected in 2007 (click for profile of each city):
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Austin, Texas
- Berkeley, California
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Madison, Wisconsin
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- New York City, New York
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Oregon
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- San Diego, California
- San Francisco, California
- Tucson, Arizona
For more information: