by Michael Gleason, CEO of Consumer Brands

Renewable resources are the next big thing in the energy world, and many government officials are taking significant steps to embrace that green future.

Iceland, for example, is a global leader in clean energy. The country derives 100 percent of its energy supply (http://www.econotimes.com/Iceland-Digs-Into-A-Volcano-For-More-Clean-Energy-688423) from renewable energy sources that include geothermal and hydroelectric. Germany is similarly moving renewable energy forward, recently generating 85 percent (https://futurism.com/germany-just-smashed-an-energy-record-generating-85-electricity-from-renewables/) of its electricity for a single day from clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric.

While our European brethren are fully embracing renewable energy, the U.S. lags behind the pack with only 13 percent of its energy generated using renewable sources. The solar energy market in the U.S. grew by about 97 percent in 2016 (http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-market-insight-report-2016-year-review), though solar power still makes up less than 1 percent (https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3) of total energy generation in the U.S.

For the first time in U.S. history, 10% of all U.S. energy demand this past March was provided by wind and solar. (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-14/renewables-provide-a-record-10-percent-of-u-s-power-in-march)

The outlook for renewable energy isn’t overly encouraging under the Trump administration, which has taken steps to roll back numerous environmental safeguards. President Donald Trump recently announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris climate accord (https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000005140711/trump-pulls-out-of-climate-accord-as-reassertion-of-americas-sovereignty.html), indicating the agreement to cut carbon emissions was not in the nation's best interest. The new regime has embraced the fossil fuel industry while cutting the already fragile renewable resource industry’s legs out from under it.

That's the bad news. The good news? Business and political leaders have said they will work to uphold elements of the Paris climate accord, with some cities and states enacting laws to follow through on those vows (https://www.fastcompany.com/40426076/defiant-u-s-mayors-vow-to-uphold-paris-climate-accord). There are still plenty of people who see the benefits of clean energy.

A Bright Future

Homeowners are increasingly climbing aboard the renewable energy train and installing residential solar energy systems. Since 2010, the number of solar energy installations has quadrupled (https://www.inmyarea.com/resources/mortgage/3-ways-determine-solar-panels-right). As technology has improved, the costs associated with solar energy systems have decreased — the average price fell by 20 percent (http://www.seia.org/news/us-solar-market-has-record-breaking-year-total-market-poised-triple-next-five-years) in 2016.

While solar power adoption pales in comparison to other energy sources, the use of solar energy by the end of 2017 is expected to be twice what it was in 2015 (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/08/renewable-energy-was-16-9-percent-of-u-s-electric-generation-in-the-first-half-of-2016.html).

This solar surge is beginning to affect the job market, with solar power accounting for about 374,000 jobs (http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/apr/27/solar-energy-illuminates-coals-demise/) in the U.S. Those jobs equate to about 43 percent of the electric power sector. In addition to being better for Mother Nature, solar is benefitting the economy.

It's also easier on your wallet (arguably the most important factor for many people). The cost of solar cell technology has dropped significantly in recent years — almost 80 percent since 2008 (https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/241300-headed-solar-power-renaissance-costs-keep-dropping). Solar power is expected to cost only $20 per megawatt-hour (https://electrek.co/2016/04/28/i-was-wrong-about-the-limits-of-solar-pv-is-becoming-dirt-cheap/) by 2020, effectively making it the cheapest form of electricity the world has ever seen.

Considering the relatively minor use of solar power in the U.S., there’s plenty of room for growth. A careful examination of several regions that have truly embraced solar energy could provide inspiration for other communities.

Leading the Way

Although there’s plenty of red tape (https://futurism.com/solar-power-is-cheaper-but-the-world-is-still-running-on-fossil-fuels/) surrounding solar power, several cities stand out as beacons of hope thanks to their creative approaches. Some states are more progressive than others in terms of clean energy, with California leading the way by generating 56.7 percent (https://futurism.com/renewable-energy-is-shattering-records-in-the-u-s/) of its total electricity from renewable resources.

Government officials who are eager to get in on the action would be wise to borrow a few ideas from the municipalities leading the solar energy pack. Here are a few cities that could provide the inspiration necessary to take solar power to new heights:

1. San Francisco
San Francisco is not just utilizing solar energy — it requires it. While the state of California already mandates (http://www.energy.ca.gov/2015publications/CEC-400-2015-037/CEC-400-2015-037-CMF.pdf) new buildings of 10 floors or fewer must have rooftops capable of housing solar panels, San Francisco takes it a step further by forcing builders to install rooftop solar panels (http://www.sfexaminer.com/leading-way-solar-energy/) on these buildings.

The city’s ordinance is expected to increase the number of solar panels in San Francisco by 50,000 and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 26.3 million tons — in terms of emissions, it’s roughly equivalent to 5,000 cars over the course of a year.

On top of those benefits, solar energy is expected to make electricity cheaper (http://sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=961) for Bay Area homeowners. The average homeowner in San Francisco pays less for solar power than he would for electricity from Pacific Gas and Electric. For an extra $6 per month, homeowners can opt to run their homes using 100 percent renewable energy.

2. San Diego
Another California city benefitting from the solar surge is San Diego, which the Environment California Research and Policy Center recently named the top city in the country for solar energy (http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/04/san-diego-solar-capacity/). That honor is well-deserved, as the city has enough solar infrastructure to generate electricity for about 76,000 homes. Its solar capacity last year was enough for only 47,000 homes.

San Diego helped spur this growth by easing its restrictions on solar power. The permitting process for San Diegans has been streamlined, making solar energy much more accessible than it was in the past. The relaxed regulations also give homeowners and business owners more opportunities than ever to install solar panels.

Area schools are also getting involved in the movement. Kearny High School in Linda Vista installed more than 1,000 solar panels in its parking lot, saving the school district about $43,000 each year in electricity costs. With another 20 panels planned for the upcoming year, the school is eliminating 8,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

3. Boston
In Boston, major organizations are banding together to support solar energy by forming an alliance (http://news.mit.edu/2016/mit-neutralize-17-percent-carbon-emissions-through-purchase-solar-energy-1019). The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston Medical Care, and Post Office Square Redevelopment Center have all agreed to purchase only solar power, which has sparked the construction of a 650-acre solar farm in North Carolina.

Summit Farms is the largest renewable energy project in the U.S., with a total of 255,000 panels with a combined output of 60 megawatts. The solar farm could ultimately curb carbon dioxide emissions by about 87,000 tons (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/01/the-7-most-progressive-us-cities-for-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy.html) annually.

4. New York City (A Gold SolSmart community.)
Between 2011 and 2016, state-sponsored solar energy has increased nearly 800 percent (https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-nearly-800-percent-growth-new-york-solar-power-over-past-five-years) in New York City. The city has undertaken nearly 65,000 solar projects, with about 56,000 of those being installed within a five-year period. The city’s recent efforts have generated enough electricity to power more than 121,000 homes.

Apartment dwellers have been able to get in on the solar game thanks to the decreasing cost of solar technology and numerous solar power incentives (https://www.ohmhomenow.com/new-york-solar-guide_2/). Renters might not be able to install their own solar panels, but they can buy shares of solar power through purchase agreements (http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170420/OPINION/170429994/new-york-city-can-lead-the-solar-energy-revolution). This sort of arrangement makes electricity less expensive for renters while increasing the number of people who use solar energy in their residences.

While solar power is still a relatively small portion of total energy consumption in the U.S., these four cities are proactively working to improve the renewable resources outlook. If local government officials throughout the country — and the world — follow their lead, the future of solar energy will be incredibly bright.

Editor’s Note: While these four cities are excellent examples, ICMA has been working with the U.S. Department of Energy on SolSmart, a national designation and technical assistance program that recognizes leading solar communities and empowers additional communities to expand their local solar markets. Nearly 60 municipalities and counties have received the SolSmart designation. To learn more about this initiative, visit SolSmart.org