In 2008, the City of Seattle was one of 25 cities named a Solar America City by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  As a result, Seattle will leverage a $200,000 DOE grant with $200,000 in local funds on a variety of efforts to promote the development of a sustainable solar energy infrastructure.  In addition to the funding, DOE will also provide hands-on assistance from technical experts to help integrate solar technologies into energy planning and assist with streamlining regulations that affect solar adoption. 

Partnering with Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED), the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) and Seattle City Light (SCL), DPD will assist with:

• Establishing strategies to increase the deployment of solar energy technology;
  
• Incorporating both building and community-scale solar standards into planning processes; and
• Developing and implementing solar education and outreach programs. 

For more information on solar programs and incentives, visit Seattle City Light’s website:

www.seattle.gov/light/Conserve/cgen/

To learn more about Solar America Cities, visit their website: www.solaramericacities.energy.gov 

For more information on how DPD is promoting the use of solar energy under the Solar America Grant, contact Andrea Petzel, andrea.petzel@seattle.gov or (206) 615-1256.