Resolution 080038

..Title Expressing support for the City of Philadelphia's grant application for the Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative Market Transformation: Solar City Strategic Partnership. ..Body WHEREAS, The Department of Energy's partnership opportunity is a 2 year grant with a $200,000 maximum award, which is dependent on a 50 percent cost-share requirement from non-federal sources. The award recipients will be announced March 2008; and WHEREAS, The Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative grant opportunity aims to form strategic partnerships with U.S. cities to accelerate the adoption of solar technology across the nation; and WHEREAS, The Department of Energy views city governments as significant users of electricity, key intermediaries to other end users within their jurisdiction, and regulatory entities; and WHEREAS, The Department of Energy supports innovative approaches to accelerate solar technology adoption at the local level and expects award recipient cities to develop a fully scoped, city-wide solar implementation plan as a deliverable under this project; and WHEREAS, If selected, the Solar America Initiative would enable Philadelphia to expand its current sustainable objectives to integrate solar technologies into its energy planning, zoning and city facilities; and WHEREAS, The grant would also help Philadelphia and regional partners establish guidelines for solar projects and increase the amount of renewable energy available to area residents and businesses; and WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has received nearly $275,000 in cost-sharing commitments from partners dedicated to the implementation of a solar technology plan for Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia offers an extraordinary opportunity to replace non-renewable energy sources with solar technology; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby express support for the City of Philadelphia's grant application for the Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative Market Transformation: Solar City Strategic Partnership. ..End