Action plan document template available on-line to stimulate development of hundreds of Solar Cities

May 2007 — Action plan document template available on-line to stimulate development of hundreds of Solar Cities. A new website, www.solarcitiesusa.com, urges solar activists to turn their city into a Solar City, and provides a document template of an action plan to help them achieve this goal. “The mayors of 500 cities have already signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. Wouldn’t it be
fabulous if these cities took the next step and became Solar Cities,” asks Jack Star, the Savannah-based developer of the website.

The document identifies 20 local takeholders and demonstrates how they can become involved in developing solar energy in their communities. By incorporating local conditions, a 12-14 page document can be produced within a couple of hours to help stimulate local action.

Solar Cities reap the benefits of creating clean, sustainable energy, and building new businesses with jobs that can’t be outsourced overseas.

A Solar City is a municipality that embraces the concept that a significant portion of electrical energy demand will be generated locally by capturing the free energy of the sun over the next 20 years.

This "embrace" has to be more than just an occasional hug, says Star. Several of the key players must be: willing to act proactively; the community needs to eventually support it, and a strong
grassroots presence will be required to keep momentum from flagging.

While it is challenging to reach this goal, it can be achieved by incorporating the next generation
of solar technology that has moved from the "proof of concept" pilot plant stage to sustainable, affordable, commercial development.

Solar energy is more than just technology. It is a mindset. It encompasses energy conservation as
well as the development of other regional renewable energy sources working in concert.

But a solar mindset requires building the necessary infrastructure.
· To provide financial support from both private and government sources;
· To develop specialists in related government and corporate departments;
· To provide training for systems design and professional installation and maintenance;
· To modify building and zoning codes;
· To educate the general public and incorporate solar/renewable energy instruction in the schools;
· To attract solar and renewable energy professionals, businesses and entrepreneurs

The action plan provided at www.solarcitiesusa.com can be used to build that infrastructure.

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