https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
Banking Technology
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Expert Insights
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
    • Co-op Solutions
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to AC&C
    • Manage AC&C Subscription
    • 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

Smart Cities & Technology


How federal, state and local agencies save money through solar energy

How federal, state and local agencies save money through solar energy

Federal, state and local government agencies across the country are finding ways to employ solar panel installations to save money on electricity bills.
  • Written by Mike Grunow
  • 9th May 2012

From the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Energy, to soldiers in Iraq and school districts, solar technology is rapidly growing beyond residential and commercial use. Federal, state and local government agencies across the country are finding ways to employ solar panel installations to save money on electricity bills.

The growth of solar in the public sector stems in part from policies such as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act that require federal agencies to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. Many federal agencies have turned to solar electricity because it offers a clean and reliable means for helping save money and meet their energy-savings goals.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) agreement to allow a solar generating facility on underused Kennedy Space Center land is just one example of how agencies are employing solar to cut costs. Annually, the facility will produce 1,803 megawatt hours (mWh) of electricity, saving NASA $187,000 each year. The U.S. Geological Survey’s energy costs dropped 23 percent over a 20-year period after installing a solar thermal tiling system, among other measures, in its Reston, Va., headquarters.

Within the federal sector, the Department of Defense (DoD) has been the most aggressive agency pursuing solar and other forms of renewable energy. It is saving the department money, improving operations in the U.S. and abroad, and providing portable energy to soldiers in the field. The projects are designed to help the DoD meet its goal of generating 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources.

The Army had thousands of solar panels installed on its largest base, Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Instead of using rooftops, the Army installed the panels on one of the base’s parking lots, allowing the base to take advantage of both solar’s cost-saving benefits and unused structures.

Given the budget crisis hitting most states, many state and local governments are following suit and increasingly turning to solar as a way to save money. These facilities can achieve immediate savings through power purchase agreements (PPAs).

PPAs allow end users to buy the energy supplied by a solar installation that is paid for by an outside party, similar to a lease. Just like paying an electricity bill to the local utility, customers pay the solar owner, but at a double-digit percentage savings for the life of the contract. The outside party assumes the cost of the system, and the end user pays little or no upfront cost. In that way, customers can immediately lower their energy costs without having to make a large initial investment. Many cash-strapped municipalities have entered into PPAs to take advantage of the cost-saving benefits of solar, allowing them to divert resources from energy costs and into mission-focused expenditures.

The Antelope Valley Union High School District in Lancaster, Calif., had more than 40,000 solar panels installed on 11 district buildings as means to cut down on utility costs. As a result, the school will save $2 million per year that can instead be spent on school programs. The systems came at no cost to the school district because the panels were bought through a PPA.

Whether the goal is to save money, reduce reliance on traditional energy sources or to increase our energy security, federal and municipal use of solar and other renewables is on the rise. Government officials should not only tout the savings from investing in solar technology, they should promote the innovation behind the technology to encourage consumers to find the panel that is right for them.

Mike Grunow is
Trina Solar’s marketing director. The company’s headquarters is in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. Trina Solar (U.S.) is based in San Jose, Calif.

Tags: News Public Works & Utilities Smart Cities & Technology

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 *

White Papers


What is Your Plan for Cybersecurity?

5th February 2019

5 Best Practices for Utilizing GIS Data

5th February 2019

City of Stamford Saves $1-Million Via Car Sharing

1st February 2019
view all

Events


Twitter


AmerCityCounty

A new #report ranks the 52 American #metropolitan areas with over 1 million residents based on their… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

14th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

Today, we announced the six winners of American #City & #County's 2018 Crown Communities awards! Congratulations to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

12th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

The @CityOfNOLA #CityCouncil is calling for the @NFL to review its rules after the @Saints lost the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

29th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Is your #city among #UHaul's top 25 #GrowthCities for 2018? buff.ly/2S8hptr https://t.co/rI4x0Lcdql

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

The personal information for approximately 1,470 #Knoxville, Tenn. #government employees was inadvertently posted o… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

““Seconded” staffers, or temporary #procurement professionals at #DallasAreaRapidTransit handle varying heavy workl… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd January 2019
AmerCityCounty

As the longest #GovernmentShutdown in U.S. history continues with no sign of abating, city governments are stepping… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Florida Governor @RonDeSantisFL formally suspended #BrowardCounty, Fla. Sheriff Scott Israel on Jan. 11, following… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019

Newsletters

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

Expert Insights

Learn from experts in the public and private sectors about best practices and how to optimize your government’s operations.

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 and print audiences? Learn more here.

American City and County

© American City and County 2019. All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service

Related Links

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

Follow us

Websites are now required by law to gain your consent before applying cookies. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Parts of the website may not work as expected without them. By closing or ignoring this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
X