|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions (FAQs) about provide a quick overview of the Solar America Cities
Partnerships. FAQs about Solar America Communities and the Solar America Communities Outreach
Partnership will be posted shortly. If you still have questions after reviewing the FAQs and the rest
of this Web site, please contact us.
Special Projects FAQs
What are Solar America Cities?
Solar America Cities are DOE’s partners in an effort to reduce market barriers to
solar energy technologies at the local level. These partnerships help cities identify
and reduce barriers that may exist in zoning regulations, codes, covenants, and
other urban planning practices that can discourage the installation of solar energy
systems. The partnerships also help cities increase citizen and business awareness
of solar energy technologies. Reducing barriers and increasing awareness will accelerate
the growth of solar markets in these municipalities. As markets grow, prices typically
come down, so these local market transformation efforts are critical to making electricity
from photovoltaics (PV) cost-competitive with conventional utility grid electricity (e.g., from coal and natural gas).
The 13 cities selected in 2007and
the 12 cities selected in 2008 are diverse in their geography, population, and maturity
of solar energy infrastructure. Each city is receiving up to $200,000 in financial
assistance from DOE, as well as significant in-kind technical assistance provided
by DOE’s national laboratories and other experts.
What are the desired outcomes of the Solar America Cities partnerships?
- Development of a comprehensive city-wide 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.
Which cities are participating?
25 Cities were awarded 2-year cooperative
agreements with DOE as a result of funding opportunities announced in 2007 and 2008. Cities submitted
applications for participation in the partnership, and were selected competitively.
A list of the selected cities follows.
2007 Awardees:
2008 Awardees:
Are the cities selected the best cities for solar in America?
The 25 cities selected as Solar America Cities are spread across the United
States. 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.
Selection criteria for Solar America Cities included a competitive application process in which cities had to
demonstrate the following:
- Commitment to integrating solar energy into urban planning and city processes
- Demonstration of commitment through signed letters of support from the mayors, local
utilities, and state officials
- Required population of 100,000 people or more as of 2006.
How is this activity related to the former Million Solar Roofs (MSR) initiative?
The Million Solar Roofs (MSR) initiative was a DOE project that started in 1997 and was phased out upon the start of
President Bush’s Solar America Initiative in early 2006. MSR also provided local support for expansion
of solar technology, but support was not limited to city governments and many partners could not harness the high-level
support they needed to be successful in overcoming barriers to solar market penetration. Solar America Cities builds on
the groundwork laid by MSR but goes beyond its scope. With Solar America Cities, DOE is increasing its level of support
to make a greater, more targeted impact with the selected city partners. Many of the selected Solar America Cities are
former MSR partners, and their progress to date makes them better poised to take on the commitment of being a Solar
America City.
Why did DOE choose to partner with cities instead of counties, or other state or local governments?
As centers of population and electricity loads, cities present great opportunities for solar market transformation.
DOE recognizes that cities have an important role to play as champions of progressive energy efficiency and renewable
energy efforts, and climate change action. DOE is supporting the Solar America Cities’ bold and innovative approaches
to accelerate solar technology adoption at the local level. DOE also recognizes the important role of counties as local
jurisdictions, and has encouraged cities to partner with their counties in proposals for the Solar America Cities award.
States and utilities are also important partners of the DOE Solar Program, and through other program activities, DOE is
engaging in outreach with
states and
utilities.
Will there be future opportunities for cities to apply to be a Solar America City?
DOE does not intend to select any new Solar America Cities. The two rounds of city
partnerships are expected to set the stage for other cities to develop solar implementation
plans that build on the experience and lessons learned of these 25 Solar America
Cities.
Which solar energy technologies are supported by the Solar America Cities initiative?
The Solar America Cities activities support the use of multiple types of solar technologies as appropriate, including
solar electricity from photovoltaics (PV)
or concentrating solar power (CSP), and
solar water and space heating from
solar thermal technologies.
As a part of these partnerships, are cities allowed to use federal dollars to buy
or install solar technologies?
No. The federal financial assistance provided through the Solar America Cities awards
is not to be used to purchase actual solar hardware, but is instead designed for
activities such as multi-year city planning, site analyses, payback analyses, curricula
development, and codes and standards work. If a city has not already done so, DOE
encourages the use of some federal dollars to hire a solar or renewable energy expert
to coordinate the integration of solar power into city energy plans.
In addition, federal technical assistance may not be used to actually install solar
energy technologies but instead may be used for expert assistance pre- and post-
installation, as well as for architectural, financial, city planning, and other
non-installation activities.
Were counties or small cities (with populations less than 100,000 people) eligible
for Solar America City awards?
Counties and small cities were eligible to apply to the Solar America City partnership
program, if they partnered with a nearby larger city that served as the main applicant.
Counties and smaller cities are also eligible for project-specific technical assistance
through DOE’s Solar America Showcases activity, which is open to all.
activity, which is open to all.
All cities are important for reducing market barriers to solar energy and growing
a robust domestic solar industry. Cities can serve a critical role in encouraging
citizens and businesses to adopt solar technology. DOE encourages all cities—regardless
of size or award status—to undertake activities to transform solar markets. These
activities include but are by no means limited to establishing solar access rights
for citizens and businesses; helping lower solar installation costs by limiting
permitting fees and streamlining the permit process; and working with states and
utilities to establish appropriate interconnection and net-metering policies.
Where can I learn more about solar energy?
The Solar Energy Technologies Program in DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has several good sources
of general information about solar energy:
Energy efficiency and renewable energy information for consumers
What are Solar America Cities Special Projects?
The Solar America Cities Special Projects are DOE-funded projects in large U.S. cities to develop innovative ways to increase urban solar energy use. DOE will make awards to 16 cities to support a total of 40 Special Projects. Project topics include development of innovative financing mechanisms, targeted outreach campaigns, and technology demonstrations, among others.
What are the desired outcomes of the Solar America Cities Special Projects?
The Solar America Cities Special Projects are intended to enable Solar America Cities to scale up their most promising pilot projects and concepts and test them in a broader marketplace, resulting in best practices for replication across the U.S. The project teams in the Solar America Cities are tackling the major barriers to widespread solar energy adoption, including the lack of financing mechanisms, consumer awareness, and complex permitting processes.
Which cities are participating?
Sixteen Solar America Cities are involved in 40 Special Projects: Austin, TX; Berkeley, CA; Boston, MA; Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN; New Orleans, LA; New York City, NY; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Jose, CA; Santa Rosa, CA; Seattle, WA; and Tucson, AZ.
In some cases, the Special Projects involve other local governments within the region.
How much funding does each project receive?
Each of the 16 cities is receiving between $100,000 and $2M in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to complete the selected Special Projects. DOE is investing a total of $9.7M in these Special Projects.
How were these projects selected?
The Special Projects were selected through a competitive merit review process. Reviewers judged the projects based on strategic approach to overcoming market barriers, replicability, sustainability, market impact, thoroughness and viability of the implementation plan, and qualifications of the applicants to conduct the work.
How are the Special Projects different from the original Solar America City projects?
The original Solar America City awards, made in 2007 and 2008, supported comprehensive, city-wide approaches to increasing solar energy use. The 25 Solar America Cities explored financing mechanisms, conducted outreach, developed training programs, evaluated codes and permitting procedures, and many installed solar systems on city facilities. The Special Projects awards represent a significant increase in funding that will enable the selected cities to implement larger scale solutions to the challenges identified through the original Solar America City projects. The Special Projects represent the best individual projects proposed by the cities; these projects have significant potential to impact the solar market, whether through programs that spur widespread deployment, or by investigating a novel application for solar energy such as integration into emergency planning.
How will the lessons learned and best practices from the Special Projects be shared?
DOE plans to launch a $10M Solar America Communities Outreach Partnership in fall 2010 to provide the lessons learned and best practices from the Special Projects as well as other resources developed through the Solar America Cities network to thousands of local governments across the United States.
|
|
|
