U.S. Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees U.S. national energy policy and manages the research and development of nuclear power and nuclear weapons in the United States. ...
(U.S. DOE) initiative to promote solar energy at the local level through city programs.
History
The DOE has named 25 U.S. cities as a Solar America City which are promoting solar technology adoption at the local level.
These cities will take a comprehensive, citywide approach to solar technology that facilitates its mainstream acceptance. Solar technologies promoted by Solar America Cities include
photovoltaics
Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially us ...
and concentrating solar power (which both produce solar electricity) as well as solar water and air heating. The Solar America Cities Awards /ref>
They represent 16 different states and have varying degrees of solar resources and experience with solar technologies. The cities were not selected for their number of sunny days. Rather, DOE selected these urban communities based on their long-term commitment to developing solar energy markets in their municipalities. Some have extensive experience with solar power and some are just getting started. Different cities are also taking different approaches to building a sustainable solar infrastructure. DOE expects that these cities’ creative efforts will serve as models for other urban communities in the future.
List
The 25 cities selected are:
*
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Washtenaw County. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor ...
*
Austin, TX
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
Denver, CO
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the United ...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state' ...
New York City, NY
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
*
Orlando, FL
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures relea ...
*
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
*
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsyl ...
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
*
San Jose, CA
San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popu ...
The desired outcomes of the Solar America Cities are:
* Development of a comprehensive citywide approach that lays the foundation for a viable solar market that includes key stakeholders such as municipal, county, and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and utilities, as well as private partners such as developers and solar companies
* Integration of solar energy technologies into city energy and climate planning
* Increased installation of solar energy technologies on city facilities
* Removal of market barriers to solar energy development that exist in urban planning charters, zoning regulations, building codes, permitting, and inspections
* Creation of city-level solar incentives (e.g., solar rebates, financial assistance, tax credits, property tax abatements, and tax incentives to solar manufacturers that are located in the city)
* Increased public awareness of solar energy among residents and local businesses, achieved through outreach, curriculum development, incentive programs, and other innovative approaches
* A widespread increase in the adoption of solar energy technologies across the city—in the residential, commercial, and public building sectors, and at the utility
* Lessons learned that are of value to other communities, cities, and counties looking to increase their use of solar energy technologies.
The Solar America Cities program has engaged over 180 organizations, including municipal, county, and state agencies, solar companies, universities, utilities, and non-profit organizations. These partners have made a commitment to power their cities with clean, safe, reliable energy—solar energy.
The Solar America Cities program has received a total of $4.9 million in federal financial assistance.
See also
*
Solar Cities in Australia
Solar Cities is an innovative demonstration programme designed to promote solar power, smart meters, energy conservation and new approaches to electricity pricing to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australi ...