Looking for something to do with that former landfill?  Interested in renewable energy? Communities across the country have brownfields, capped landfills, and other pieces of vacant and underutilized land, which have the potential to be successfully redeveloped with solar.

Jason Kambitsis, a Senior Planner with the City of Pittsburgh's Department of City Planning, discusses the Pittsburgh Solar Initiative. Pittsburgh was named as one of the Department of Energy's 25 Solar America City in 2007 and as a member of a Rooftop Solar Challenge team in 2011.  The city has worked to identify suitable sites for solar, increase solar on city facilities, and train city employees to install solar systems. This podcast explores the city’s successes, challenges, and lessons learned.

Dennis DiZoglio, the Executive Director of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission in Massachussetts, discusses efforts to go solar in the region and the role that the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is playing in facilitating regional solar growth. Learn more about the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission.

Bruce Plenk, the City of Tucson’s Solar Energy Coordinator, discusses Tucson's work as one of the Department of Energy's 25 Solar America Cities.  Tucson was named as a Solar America City in 2007and the city has worked to increase installations on municipal buildings, revise zoning ordinances, and make solar more accessible to residents through a solar ready homes ordinance.  This podcast explores the city’s successes, challenges, and lessons learned.

Liza Meyer, a Special Projects Manager with the City of San Antonio, discusses San Antonio's work as one of the Department of Energy's 25 Solar America Cities. San Antonio was named as a Solar America City in 2008 and the city worked with local non-profits to increase financing options for homeowners, as well as with CPS Energy, its municipal utility, on large scale solar installations.

Andrea Luecke, the Executive Director of the Solar Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to demonstrate the benefits of solar energy through research and education, discusses the National Solar Jobs Census and growth in the solar jobs sector. The full National Solar Jobs Census report is available here.

Jennifer Ronk, a Research Scientist with the Houston Advanced Research Center, discusses Houston's work as one of the Department of Energy's 25 Solar America Cities, its successes, challenges, and lessons learned, as well as where she sees solar as part of Houston's future.

Amy Heart, the Solar Program Manager with Milwaukee Shines, the city of Milwaukee’s solar program, discusses the program, its successes, challenges, and lessons learned that have come from Milwaukee’s experiences with solar since being designated as one of the Department of Energy’s 25 Solar America Cities in 2008.  To learn more about Milwaukee Shines, visit www.MilwaukeeShines.com.

This brochure provides an overview of the challenges and successes of Sacramento, CA, a 2008 Solar America City awardee, on the path toward becoming a solar-powered community. Accomplishments, case studies, key lessons learned, and local resource information are given.

This brochure provides an overview of the challenges and successes of Philadelphia, PA, a 2008 Solar America City awardee, on the path toward becoming a solar-powered community. Accomplishments, case studies, key lessons learned, and local resource information are given.