Solar Energy

The city's Environmental Plan includes a section on Energy that covers solar energy. The plan notes the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy and describes and discusses passive solar, solar thermal, and solar photovoltaic energy (pp. 57-58). The plan lists three solar goals and related actions (p. 59). Goal G3.1 is to incorporate solar into municipal operations through installing solar hot water systems on municipal buildings, considering installation of at least one PV system on a municipal building, and incorporating passive solar heating in new city construction. Goal G3.2 is to promote public adoption of solar energy through providing information to residents about financial incentives, considering adding solar access overlay provisions to ordinances, reviewing historic district regulations for barriers to solar, and requiring pre-wiring and pre-plumbing for solar systems. Goal G3.3 is to promote solar energy-related job creation through encouraging and recruiting solar businesses.