Print this pageFederal Solar Incentives increased, Solar Cities Named
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) allocated $60 million dollars in early 2007 to be utilized in a movement to increase solar power usage throughout the country. From this, $2.5 million will go to Solar America Cities (Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; Berkeley, CA; Boston, MA; Madison, WI; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; and Tucson, AZ). Solar America Cities enter into cooperative agreements in which they will receive awards to promote the use of solar-power technologies throughout their cities. Various universities will split $30 million for research and improvements to solar products. Lastly, ten Photovoltaic (PV) Module Incubator projects will receive up to $27 million dollars over a period of 18 months.
Solar America cites can utilize the funds to develop city energy planning and zoning; implement regulations and practices within the city that increase solar power usage by residents and businesses; and promote solar power through education, outreach, and incentive programs. Cities were chosen based on electricity demand, geography, population, and the state of solar infrastructure.
In March of 2008, the DOE added an additional 12 cities to the list of Solar America Cities:
- Denver, CO
- Houston, TX
- Knoxville, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Seattle, WA
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