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Background
Established in 1997 as a national global climate change initiative, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSRI) is steadily gathering momentum toward its goal of seeing that 1,000,000 new solar energy systems are installed in the United States by 2010. MSRI is administered by the Department of Energy, and currently has approximately 50 partnerships across the country.
Million Solar Roofs in North Carolina
The NC Solar Center is the coordinator for the North Carolina MSRI partnership. Eight community partnerships have been formed across the state: Asheville and surrounding counties, the Town of Chapel Hill, the city and county of Durham, Guilford County, Charlotte, Wilmington, Fayetteville and Watauga County. The Solar Center is recruiting additional communities to join the program.
Each MSRI partnership consists of a wide variety of local stakeholders that may include architects, solar installers, builders, local government representatives, educators, solar home owners, and interested citizens. Each group develops and executes a plan to promote the adoption of solar products and services in their community. Strategies include increasing demand through public education, providing training to architects, builders, installers and inspectors, reducing barriers at state and local levels, and making it easier for consumers to purchase, install and service quality solar equipment.
If you are interested in starting a MSRI partnership in your community,
please contact us.
Objectives
The Million Solar Roofs Initiative is increasing momentum in the U.S. for more widespread use of solar power. Increasing the demand for solar energy systems, photovoltaic, solar hot water, and solar space heating systems will lower the cost of these technologies, making them accessible to more people. And this will put the American solar energy industry in a stronger position in the expanding international renewable-energy market.
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Slowing greenhouse gas emissions. Clean energy from the sun replaces power sources that pollute the environment. By 2010, Million Solar Roofs can reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equal to what is now produced by 850,000 automobiles. While solar energy is a long-term investment to slow greenhouse gases, the initiative can help drive economies of scale of manufacturing so that significant pollution prevention can occur. |
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Expanding our energy options. Million Solar Roofs can produce the same electricity generating capacity as 3 to 5 coal-fired plants. Solar energy expands our energy options and makes us less dependent on foreign supplies of oil. Dozens of electric utilities, including the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Detroit Edison, and Colorado Public Service Company, are selling electricity produced by solar energy. |
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Creating high-technology jobs. By 2010, approximately 70,000 new jobs are projected be created as a result of new demand for photovoltaic, solar water-heating, and solar space heating technologies. |
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| Relying on market forces and consumer choice. Million Solar Roofs builds on state and local action to remove market barriers and generate grassroots demand for solar technologies. More than thirty states have passed laws to promote the on-site use of solar (net metering) technologies, and many utilities are offering consumers the choice of purchasing power generated from renewable sources. |
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