Recently on this blog, we’ve written about a number of steps the city of Sacramento, California, has taken to adopt solar energy solutions. Over the past month or so, Ygrene Energy Fund formed a partnership with the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to help individuals within the county purchase renewable power and two influential green technology companies announced a joint plan to study the effects of solar photovoltaics (PV) on the city’s electric grid.

Now, according to an April 29 article in The Sacramento Bee, the state capital has revealed a plan to implement 6,000 solar-powered parking meters in the downtown area. The source states that drivers will be able to make payments via a cell phone so that they don’t have to carry around cash or use their credit cards when they park their vehicles in the city.

“Who carries around $4 in quarters?” asked Howard Chan, the city’s parking manager. “We want to make the experience more convenient and pleasant, so people will come downtown, and won’t feel we are after them.”

In addition to being energy efficient and more convenient for drivers, the new meters would also require less maintenance, explained Chan, making them a cheaper alternative to the devices currently in place.

It’s encouraging to see that the Golden State, whose efforts to go green have already put it ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to solar energy solutions, continues to pursue a future of renewable power. If you live in the Sacramento area and are interested in hearing more about how these kinds of energy-efficient upgrades can benefit you, contact West Coast Solar for an in-home assessment at 877-379-3448.