Reenergizing Cities With Solar Energy

Renewable Energy World recently interviewed Franklin M. Lee, a partner at the firm, on Baltimore City’s urban solar power initiative in Baltimore.  Mr. Lee was the leading architect for the City’s public/private partnership model that will use municipal revenue bond financing for the installation of large-scale solar-powered micro-grids in new urban residential and commercial developments, and also on City facilities.   With detailed planning of pilot projects scheduled to begin this Fall, special attention will be paid to positioning local small minority firms to be included in the mainstream of this emerging high growth industry.   Dual primary objectives of the urban solar initiative are making City residential communities and commercial developments more affordable through significantly reduced energy costs, while simultaneously creating new streams of revenue for real estate developers, residents, and the City from the sale of surplus solar-generated electric power.