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Currently, only 12 percent of the electrical power used in San José
comes from renewable sources. At 6.5 billion kilowatt hours a year,
switching to 100 percent clean renewable energy sources will drastically
reduce San José’s carbon footprint.
 Providing affordable renewable options to all electricity users in San
José is an ambitious goal, and it will require both innovation and investment.
One means of achieving this goal is through solar energy. Governor
Schwarzenegger has set a goal of 1 million solar roofs for California,
and we believe that San José can supply 10 percent of this total. We have
the sunshine, and the solar technology innovations are being developed
here.
The City of San José can both save money and help the environment by
installing solar on our City facilities, and we can make it easier for individuals
and business to do the same. We will support power purchase
agreements, helping to facilitate the procurement of solar energy technology.
Through partnerships with residents, private sector leaders,
and civic organizations, San José will become a national solar showcase
with cutting-edge demonstration projects, residential and commercial
bulk purchasing arrangements, and solar-powered public buildings. In
addition to harnessing solar power, San José will also support the development
of innovative technologies and evaluate the use of other
clean energy sources, such as wind, water, geothermal, hydrogen, electrochemical
and fuel cell technologies, and biomass.
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