 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 TEL: (510) 981-7100, FAX: (510) 981-7199, TDD: (510) 981-6903 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Email: mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us |
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Press
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berkeley
Wins U.S. Energy Department’s ‘Solar America City’ Competition Berkeley,
California – This
morning, the U.S. Secretary of Energy announced that Berkeley was one of
13 cities in the United States to be selected as a ‘Solar America
City.’ The selection, which
was based on a highly competitive national review, means Berkeley is in
line for up to $200,000 in direct funding as well as technical assistance
and other resources to develop and launch a comprehensive solar power and
energy efficiency program in the City. The
award is intended to recognize those cities that are “highly
committed” to solar technology adoption at the local level and to
accelerate solar adoption at the local level.
Berkeley’s application detailed a specific effort to create a
turnkey solar electric, solar hot water, and energy efficiency program
based on the successful “Smart Lights” initiative that has reduced
energy use at hundreds of Berkeley small businesses.
This new program, tentatively called the “Smart Solar” program,
will focus on residential homes as well as small and medium sized
businesses. “Not
only will this funding and technical support speed our efforts to expand
the use of solar power, but it will also provide a great opportunity for
us to provide hands on leadership for other City’s to follow,” said
Mayor Tom Bates. “This award is just the most recent indication that
Berkeley is at the forefront of national efforts to adopt innovative
environmental policies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” As
part of the grant, the City will help install approximately 25 new solar
power systems in the pilot project phase, leading to full implementation
of a new program that would install nearly 200 solar electric and water
systems throughout the East Bay every year.
If successful, this program will reduce carbon emissions by 5.6
million pounds annually by the year 2015. |
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