NEW YORK, NY – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today announced that DOE will make available nearly $2.5 million to thirteen cities to increase the use of solar power across the country, building on the President’s commitment to further the development of clean, renewable energy technologies.  Cities selected for the Solar America Cities cooperative agreements will receive awards to promote solar-powered technologies throughout Salt Lake City, UT.  These awards will further President Bush’s Solar America Initiative (SAI), which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional sources of electricity by 2015.

“We believe these projects will stimulate activity in the marketplace and create a ripple effect that will boost the use of solar energy across the country,” Secretary Bodman said.  “Harnessing more of the sun’s power is central to reaching the President’s goal of increasing our nation’s energy security by pushing forward clean, renewable technologies that will allow us to become less reliant on imported sources of energy.”

Additional cities selected to receive Solar America Cities grants include: Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; Berkeley, CA; Boston, MA; Madison, WI; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, OR; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; and Tucson, AZ.

Subject to negotiation of final term, DOE will provide a total of $2.5 million in financial assistance to the thirteen competitively selected, cost-shared, two-year projects.  Additionally, DOE will provide hands-on assistance from technical and policy experts to help cities integrate solar technologies into city energy planning, zoning and facilities; to streamline city-level regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and local businesses; and promote solar technology among residents and local businesses through outreach, curriculum development, and incentive programs.

Solar America Cities have been identified as large cities with high electricity demand, and represent a diverse geography, population, and maturity of solar infrastructure.  Cities were selected based on their plan and commitment to a comprehensive, citywide approach to the deployment of solar technologies.  Their efforts will improve the ability of citizens and businesses to adopt solar technology locally, and will provide a model that other cities across the country can follow.  Subject to evaluation by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, as well as appropriations from Congress, DOE plans to select a new round of Solar America Cities in 2008.

Secretary Bodman made today’s announcement while delivering keynote remarks at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Renewable Energy Finance Forum in New York.  There, Secretary Bodman also announced the issuance of a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $30 million for universities to research near-term improvements in solar products; and the competitive selection of ten cost-shared Photovoltaic (PV) Module Incubator projects that will receive up to $27 million in DOE funding over 18 months.  These investments will total nearly $60 million to further President Bush’s Solar America Initiative (SAI), integral to the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI).  The AEI seeks to change the way we power our homes, offices, and vehicles by increasing the use of clean, renewable energy technologies.

Additional information is available on these projects.

Media contact(s):
Julie Ruggiero, (202) 586-4940