skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week; Kamala Harris joins Oprah Winfrey in emotional campaign event; Report finds poor working conditions in Texas clean energy industry; AI puts on a lab coat, heads to technical schools.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Cities Save on Energy Through Rooftop Solar

play audio
Play

Monday, June 8, 2015   

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Some U.S. cities are using solar power to cut their energy bills, and a new report shows how mid-sized cities could install as much as 5,000 megawatts of solar on municipal property, with little to no upfront cash.

Report author John Farrell, director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), says solar presents significant opportunities for cities because of unused rooftop space – and because the private sector is poised to get the job done at no cost to taxpayers.

"How easy it would be for them to do it, because they can sign up with these companies that will install the solar for them, pay for it, and then just allow them to pay less for electricity," he says.

The ILSR projects that by 2021, 10 percent of electricity in the U.S. could be solar, and at a lower price than traditional, utility-generated electricity. According to the report, four cities in Pennsylvania could generate 100 megawatts from solar on city buildings.

The report also found municipal solar installations help create jobs. It estimates tapping Kansas City's municipal solar potential of 70 megawatts could create 1,400 jobs and add $175 million to the local economy. Farrell says installing solar on city rooftops has allowed municipalities to redirect millions in saved energy costs to other public purposes.

"Cities spend a lot of money on energy," says Farrell, "and the chance to cut energy bills for cities is a chance to save money that can be used to either reduce taxes, or to spend on other items of public interest."

The report highlights Denver, which collects solar at its city-owned airport; Lancaster, California, which produces more solar energy on a daily basis than the entire city consumes; and New Bedford, Massachusetts – which, by going solar, saves more than $6 million per year on electricity costs.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021