More American cities are getting in on what much of Europe has long-since adopted: feed-in tariffs. This policy offers small-scale producers of solar energy—like residents in their home—contracts for selling the energy they produce to the grid. This past spring, Gainesville, Fla., adopted a feed-in tariff, with Vermont, Washington, and Sacramento, Calif., following suit. Hawaii is also considering one, according to Green Inc., a New York Times blog.
Much of Germany’s success in building its solar industry has been attributed to its use of feed-in tariffs.