Houston Goes Solar

Podcast Highlights Houston's Efforts as a Solar America City

27 October 2011

Houston, Texas is the fourth largest city in the United States (and the largest in Texas), with a population of over 2 million people. Due to Houston’s major industries, which include petrochemical refining, and climate, the city has long been a major energy consumer. As a result, the city has invested in both energy efficiency measures and renewable energy (the city has purchased over 350 kWh of wind energy, making it the largest municipal purchaser of wind energy in the country).

In 2008, Houston took its clean energy initiatives a step further, when it was named as one of the US Department of Energy’s 25 Solar America Cities. Since 2008, the city has formed the Solar Houston Advisory Council (a strong public-private partnership), developed the Solar Houston Initiative plan, and completed a demonstration project on the George R. Brown Convention Center.

To learn more about Houston’s work as a Solar America City, the Houston Solar Initiative Plan, and the unique challenges that having no formal zoning code pose when going solar, listen to this podcast with Jennifer Ronk, a Research Scientist with the Houston Advanced Research Center.

Interested in what other communities have done related to solar? Learn more with this podcast with Amy Heart, the Solar Program Manager for Milwaukee Shines, the City of Milwaukee’s solar program.