Denver Selected as 2008 Solar America City

Gov. Bill Ritter today congratulated Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and the city for receiving a $200,000 U.S. Department of Energy "Solar America Cities" award. Denver will receive technical and funding assistance for developing solar electric projects.

"I applaud Mayor Hickenlooper and Colorado's capital city for being selected as a 2008 SolarAmericaCity," Gov. Ritter said. "This national award recognizes Denver's greening efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and incorporate clean, renewable sources of power. The Solar America grant will further stimulate our renewable energy industry, protect our natural environment, increase our energy security and advance Colorado's New Energy Economy."

The announcement comes on the heels of several other major New Energy Economy achievements in recent weeks, including:

The opening of Vestas Blades in Windsor;

The announcement that ConocoPhillips is opening an alternative-fuel research hub in Louisville;

The relocation of RES Americas from Texas to Broomfield;

Xcel Energy's decision to make Boulder the nation's first

SmartGridCity; and 

Last week's signing of a historic "homegrown energy" or net-metering bill into law by Gov. Ritter.

DOE Secretary Samuel W. Bodman made the announcement today that $2.4 million will be available to 12 cities across the country. These cities were chosen for their commitment and comprehensive approach to the deployment of solar technologies and the development of sustainable solar infrastructures.  The Solar America Initiative (SAI) aims to make electricity from solar photovoltaics cost-competitive with conventional electricity by 2015.