Cities can play an important role in the transition to renewable energy. Cities are big energy users. They have access to cheap, long-term capital for project finance. And most importantly, they have a mandate to serve the public good. A series of cost-effective municipal solar projects not only has an immediate impact on emission levels, but can also help build the economies of scale necessary to bring down the cost of solar for the rest of the community.

Try this at home. Here are some municipal strategies for jumpstarting a local solar market:

PACE – Municipal financing for solar on private property

Project: Permit – Streamlining the local permitting process

Public Procurement – Meeting the city’s power needs with solar