The Big Orange is about to become the Big Green: Knoxville, TN Awarded DOE Solar Grant
Knoxville was chosen as one of 12 Solar America Cities designated Friday by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive up to $200,000 to help integrate solar energy technology into their operations.
A part of the grant will be used to install solar panels on the soon to be built net-zero energy consumption home in the South Waterfront redevelopment area and on the planned downtown public transit center. The grant will also provide training of how to use solar energy in the community, set up incentives, financial advice and more.
Also Knoxville received $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to fund a professional training for the city and Knox County permitting and codes inspectors and the Knoxville Utilities Board workers.
Both funds will be used to help publicize solar energy in East Tennessee and the incentives offered by TVA, KUB and the state of Tennessee. Also research that will help find ways to lessen the technological and financial constrictions of using solar energy will be funded.
The DOE grant is part of the President Bush’s Solar America Initiative. The incentive hopes to make solar energy cost competitive by 2015. The DOE grant in the long term will lessen electricity prices and natural gas and water usage in all Knoxville city owned buildings.
This grant is accordance with many efforts in East Tennessee to make the Big Orange the Big Green.
