Where there is a will...

...there is a green city!

I had blogged in mid-2007, when I first started getting interested in solar energy (thanks to a project at work), about how Germany, a country which apparently gets less sun on average than rainy Seattle, had become the #1 country for solar installations due to political will and the people's drive to make it happen.

In the US, though growing, solar is not that common although it is important to recognize California's leadership for their CSI program (that stands for California Solar Initiative, you television buffs. :)), which is directed by the California Public Utilities Commission and has a budget of $2B+ for the 2007-2016 period.

Now, foggy San Francisco has taken the initiative and launched a Solar Energy Incentive Program with the intention of helping put up 10,000 solar roofs in the city in the next 5 years. The program has a budget of $3M for 2008-2009 and further details can be found via the website for the SF Public Utilities Commission. (Considering how much money our politicians waste on so many useless things, $3M a year is a drop in the ocean!)

In June this year, the San Francisco board of supervisors approved this program (albeit after months of political bickering with naysayers) and SF Mayor Gavin Newson, who has been fighting FOR this program for a long time, signed it into law shortly thereafter.

Residents can apply for the incentives of up to $6,000 and businesses can apply to get up to $10,000. The city has launched a great website - SF.solarmap.org - for residents to estimate available roof, costs, and understanding all available federal, state and new municipal rebates. The website also has a great Google mashup that maps the locations of solar installations in the city. Absolutely wonderful!

And it gets even better...

The next step is to make the out-of-pocket cost zero, Newsom said today. He wants to create a municipal loan program to erase the upfront cost, allowing anyone to put solar up. Its another ambitious plan and it took six arduous months for the rebate program become law so don’t expect zero-down solar from the city any time soon.

More power to Newsom! Mayor Menino and mayors across the US, are you paying attention? Show some leadership!

Related: The 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings have been released, with Portland, San Francisco and Seattle named as top three green cities. Boston's at #7 (not too bad.. I didn't expect it to be. The mention of Mayor Menino above was just because I want to see solar panels all around me when I go out for a walk. But I don't see too many; including on my own roof. Clearly, despite the best of intentions, there is something (costs, consumer education, ...what else?) working against us here. But, like the old adage goes: Where there is a will, there is a way!