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Dozens Of San Jose City Buildings May Go Solar

SAN JOSE (KCBS) – San Jose is trying to expand its investment in solar energy, with a proposal to put solar panels on more than two dozen city-owned buildings, a project that fits in with the city's green goals.

The proposal is to install solar panels on up to 38 city buildings, from libraries to community centers, and then buy the electricity generated from the installer, San Mateo-based Solar City.

Kerrie Romanow, acting assistant Director of San Jose Environmental Services said that they will do this without using any general funding money.

"It allows us to achieve cost savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise the city's visibility of solar as an option for our community as a whole, and that helps us move the green vision goals forward," said Romanow.

KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:

Cumulative energy savings would total an estimated $5.7 million. The deal still has to be approved by the city council later this month.

"This has been a long time coming," said Councilmember Sam Liccardo, who said that the city had to jump through a lot of regulatory and legal hurdles before doing business with Solar City. "So I look forward to seeing panels on as many buildings as we possibly can."

San Jose green goal is to use 100-percent renewable energy in the next 15 years.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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