In 2007 and 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected
25 major U.S. cities
as Solar America Cities, the foundation of DOE’s Solar America Communities program.
Through this effort, these cities have been working to accelerate the adoption of solar energy
technologies for a cleaner, more secure energy future. These unique federal-local partnerships have
enabled DOE to identify barriers to solar energy use in diverse locations and at various stages of
market development, and to collaboratively develop solutions to those barriers.
Communities across the country are realizing the benefits of solar energy:
- Power from secure, domestic energy
- Sustainable, "green" urban development
- Clean energy production that helps meet greenhouse gas reduction targets and climate
change goals
- Development of new economic opportunities.
DOE’s Solar America Communities program is committed to developing a sustainable solar infrastructure
that removes market barriers and encourages the adoption of solar energy by residents and businesses
in local communities. The objective is to develop comprehensive approaches that lay the foundation for
a viable solar market and provide a model for communities throughout the United States.
The
Solar America Communities Outreach Partnership will bring the lessons learned and best practices from the
Solar America Cities partnerships to communities across the United States.
