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Metro Council Seeks Wider Deployment of Solar Energy

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Louisville’s Metro Council this week approved a resolution formally supporting solar energy and encouraging efforts to deploy the technology more widely in the city.

The resolution, which passed unanimously, cites the importance of renewable energy in reducing Kentucky’s reliance on coal, and cutting the state’s carbon dioxide pollution. It says the city can set a goal of 2 million watts from solar installations by the end of next year. That would be 500 residential installations.

“I think that the resolution is really going to help raise awareness,” said Metro Sustainability Director Maria Koetter. “I think the fact that the council members voted unanimously is very telling, and I think that folks are going to pay attention and the timing is right, with the cost of solar photovoltaic panels coming down.”

Koetter wasn’t directly involved in drafting the resolution, but she said there are already six or seven Metro government buildings with solar panels. Those include the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, the Metro Development Center and the Newburg Library.

Metro Government’s Sustain Louisville plan also sets a goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy in the city. To do that, the plan proposes ramping up renewable energy in city-owned buildings by 50 percent and assessing renewable energy incentive programs.