Last year, Austin was named one of a handful of Solar America Cities. More of Texas will soon be relying on the power of the sun, as San Antonio and Houston were just named among twelve new Solar America Cities for 2008.
Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities partnership, San Antonio and Houston will be working to accelerate the adoption of solar energy technologies for a cleaner, more secure energy future. The cities’ solar partnerships (non-profit agencies, universities, solar companies, etc.) have committed to developing a sustainable solar infrastructure that removes barriers and encourages the adoption of solar energy by its residents and businesses, and increases the number of solar installations in the city. San Antonio and Houston will follow in Austin’s footsteps by taking a comprehensive, city-wide approach that lays the foundation for a viable solar market and provides a model for other cities to follow.
San Antonio’s and Houston’s solar projects further President Bush’s Solar America Initiative (SAI), which aims to make solar electricity from photovoltaics cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity from the utility grid by 2015. San Antonio and Houston, along with the other cities designated as 2008 Solar America Cities will receive up to $200,000 from DOE to help support their solar efforts. Experts will be available to assist the cities in streamlining local regulations and practices (e.g., zoning and building codes) that affect the adoption of solar technologies by residents and businesses. They can also help develop solar financing options and incentive programs as well promote solar technology among residents and local businesses through outreach and curriculum development.
The many benefits of solar energy include:
- Power from secure, domestic energy
- Sustainable, "green" urban development
- Support in meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets and climate change goals
- Development of new economic opportunities
Although $200,000 per city is really just a drop in the bucket when the cities will be tackling such large-scale projects, it is at least a step in the right direction toward supporting renewable energy, and we can all hope that the Solar America Initiative will continue to encourage the rest of the country to “follow the light” of the sun.
To learn more about Texas real estate, please call me at 512-697-9140 or visit CopelandRealtyGroup.com. Also be sure to check out AustinRealEstateToday.com!
Great Blog! We get a lot of sun shine in Bend Oregon but nothing like you do. We only get 12 inches of precipitation anually. The Bend Oregon real estate market is slow now with some good buys available.
Posted by: Jim Johnson CRS | Tuesday, July 08, 2008 at 08:03 PM