Extend the City’s efforts to develop more renewable energy projects on City facilities.
As part of the carbon neutrality (action B1), the City will identify further suitable locations for photovoltaic panel installation on its facilities. As a local demonstration project, the City will consider a solar energy project on large, city-owned tracts of land that have little opportunity for future development, such as a brownfield site or closed landfill (the City of Houston’s Sunnyside Energy project on a landfill is an example of this strategy). Opportunities include expanding the existing City’s Southside treatment facility and McCommas Bluff renewable energy projects.
The City could develop case studies outlining the cost-benefits gained from its own renewable energy projects to encourage other installations. This information could be used in the education campaign under Action E3.
use low-cost bond funds for these city investments as they will pay back but it will take longer than private sector since the city cannot use the tax credits that dramatically reduce solar costs.