https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Public Works & Utilities


Solar America cities spread the wealth

Solar America cities spread the wealth

The Solar America Cities program is intended only for municipalities. However, some SAC-designated cities are working with counties and other smaller cities to apply the initiative's grants and technical assistance to
  • Written by Annie Gentile
  • 29th June 2009

The Solar America Cities (SAC) program, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative that promotes the adoption of solar power into city energy planning, zoning and city facilities, is intended only for municipalities. However, some of the 25 SAC-designated cities are working with counties and other smaller cities to apply the initiative’s grants and technical assistance to support local and regional solar planning.

SAC designate Santa Rosa, Calif., applied to participate in the DOE program largely to expand a solar program in nearby Sebastopol to encompass all of Sonoma County. Established in 2002, Solar Sebastopol set a goal to install 1 megawatt of solar power production and to train solar inspectors and professionals on proper code and installation. “What was really unique and appealing in our grant proposal to DOE was that we already had a vision, and all nine cities in the county were partnering and collaborating together,” says Marty Roberts, project co-director of Solar Sebastopol’s newly expanded Solar Sonoma County.

The SAC grant allowed the program to form a 501(c)(3), create a countywide solar implementation plan with solar incentives, standardize the building permit process and develop a tax assessment model for solar financing. The grant also has assisted with outreach and education programs. “By collaborating with other entities, we can reach more people, develop a uniform permitting system and exploit the economy of our joint buying power,” says Santa Rosa Project Development Manager Dell Tredinnick.

Last year, Denver, another SAC designate, devoted some of its SAC funding to Boulder County and the cities of Aurora and Boulder to support the county’s new ClimateSmart Loan program, which provides long-term financing for residential and commercial property owners who wish to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Boulder County used the SAC partnership to pay for consultant time to help develop the program and to network with other communities.

Related Stories

  • Solar power energizes mayors at conference
Tags: Public Works & Utilities Smart Cities & Technology

Related


  • Pennsylvania county will light up its buildings with hydro-electric power
    A planned hydropower plant will supply electricity for county-run operations in Allegheny County, Pa., according to an announcement by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Boston-based Rye Development LLC will finance and build the 17.8-megawatt plant along the Ohio River at the Emsworth Main Channel Dam, near Pittsburgh. Under the terms of a 35-year power purchase agreement […]
  • 2020 Crown Communities winner: Harris County, Texas, Precinct 2's ACCESS2HEALTH SmartPod
    Precinct 2 of Harris County, Texas, implemented a medical college’s innovative epidemiological technology to bring COVID-19 testing to its vulnerable residents. However, the precinct’s initiative and this technology could influence pandemic response across the country. Of all four precincts in Harris County, Texas, Precinct 2 has the lowest median life expectancy, the highest percentage of […]
  • Local governments in Texas respond to cold snap, power grid failure
    As many Texans remain without power due to an ongoing cold snap in the state, local governments are taking varied measures to try to help their communities where they can. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which controls most of Texas’s power, said on Friday that it has returned to normal operating conditions, CNBC […]
  • COVID-19 and pivoting into a new year: It may be 2021, but did we really leave 2020?
    As we continue to navigate 2021, many issues will require continued tech leadership and support to carry everyone through

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • 2020 Crown Communities winner: Rock Hill, S.C.'s My Ride
  • How small cities are tackling lead service line replacement
  • 2020 Crown Communities winner: Phases 2 and 3 of Minot, N.D.'s Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan
  • Artificial cities could pave the way to driverless adoption

White papers


Discover How Public Sector Officials are Monitoring and Managing Overtime in This New White Paper

22nd February 2021

How to Assemble a Successful Government Grant Proposal

5th February 2021

The Rise of Procurement’s Next Normal

5th February 2021
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

2020 Crown Communities winner: El Paso County, Texas’ pretrial justice modernization dlvr.it/Rv4GKL

6th March 2021
AmerCityCounty

A city’s innovative downtown master plan sees future in local, inclusive placemaking dlvr.it/Rv3SfM

5th March 2021
AmerCityCounty

2020 Crown Communities winner: Gainesville, Fla. closes Dignity Village and houses its homeless population dlvr.it/Rv1GS2

5th March 2021
AmerCityCounty

2020 Crown Communities Winner: South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ South Bay Fiber Network dlvr.it/Rv10b7

5th March 2021
AmerCityCounty

Senate American Rescue Plan includes more than $60 million in direct aid for counties dlvr.it/RtzvBK

4th March 2021
AmerCityCounty

ASCE releases 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure dlvr.it/Rtvck5

3rd March 2021
AmerCityCounty

Updating the assessor report: A new approach dlvr.it/RttvDv

3rd March 2021
AmerCityCounty

2020 Crown Communities winner: Phases 2 and 3 of Minot, N.D.’s Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan dlvr.it/RtrWMC

3rd March 2021

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X