San Francisco Launches Major Solar Initiative

"Construction will soon begin on San Francisco's first major solar-power project -- a $7.4 million retrofit of the Moscone Convention Center that will include the rooftop installation of 5,000 solar panels. The Moscone project is part of the city's effort to transform itself into a center for "green" building. In November 2001, voters approved a municipal bond measure that allows the city to issue $100 million in revenue bonds for installing renewable-energy systems, including solar panels, wind turbines and energy-efficiency measures at public facilities. The measure, created by the Vote Solar Initiative, costs taxpayers nothing, since energy savings will be used to pay off the bonds."