It’s known as the Windy City, but its vehicle fleet could someday be powered by the sun. Chicago unveiled its first solar electric-vehicle charging station this month as part of a campaign to bolster the city’s green cred in its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. The 2.4-kilowatt battery system is small, but it demonstrates [...]
The sun is rising on a new era for renewable energy in Gainesville, Fla. Starting this month, residents and business owners with solar panels connected to the power grid will get a monthly check from their city-owned electric utility, the result of a first-in-the-nation policy called a feed-in tariff. The new policy essentially turns privately [...]
Federal stimulus funds could turn New York City’s rooftops into a laboratory for urban solar.
Con Edison, which serves 3.2 million customers in the New York City area, is proposing a 12 megawatt solar energy pilot program that would add solar panels to the utility’s buildings and property, help customers pay for installations, and solicit developers to build larger rooftop systems in its territory.
While 12 megawatts might sound small, the potential is enormous.
If it succeeds, what New York City learns from the project will shed valuable light on how photovoltaics can help cities worldwide manage peak electricity demands on hot summer days. (Continue reading…)
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