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Solar America Cities
Solar America Cities

Solar America Cities is an activity of the Solar America Initiative. Twenty-five cities across the U.S. are partnering with DOE to support the goals of SAI. These cities are committed to accelerating the adoption of solar energy technologies at the local level.

You can learn more about Solar America Cities at the new Solar America Cities Web site.

Twenty-five Solar America Cities across the U.S. are partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate the adoption of solar energy technologies at the local level.

Solar America Cities is an activity of the Solar America Initiative. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy within DOE is leading the Solar America Initiative (SAI). The goal of SAI is to make solar electricity from photovoltaic (PV) technologies cost-competitive with the conventional electricity delivered by the utility grid by 2015.

Because cities are the nation's electricity load centers, they are important partners in increasing the adoption of solar energy technologies. Solar America Cities receive financial and technical assistance from DOE to reduce market barriers to solar energy technologies. City partners are committed to developing a sustainable solar infrastructure that removes barriers to solar installations and encourages the adoption of solar energy by their residents and businesses. The efforts of these Solar America Cities also increase the number of solar installations within U.S. municipalities. These cities are taking a comprehensive, city-wide approach that lays the foundation for a viable solar market and provides a model for other cities to follow.

DOE announced the first Solar America Cities awards June 2007 and named 13 U.S. cities Solar America Cities. The resulting interest from other cities across the nation led to a 2008 Funding Opportunity. The 2008 awardees were announced March 28, 2008.

2007 Awardees:
On June 20, 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy named the following 13 cities as Solar America Cities:
  • Ann Arbor, MI
  • Austin, TX
  • Berkeley, CA
  • Boston, MA
  • Madison, WI
  • New Orleans, LA
  • New York City, NY
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Portland, OR
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Tucson, AZ
2008 Awardees
On March 28, 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy named the following 12 cities as 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