US city empowers Australian councils to develop solar as lack of federal climate policy causes concern

A city in southern California has become the first city in the world to be zero net energy with solar farms powering the entire city, and now it is inspiring Australian cities to follow its lead.

Rex Parris is the Mayor of Lancaster in southern
 California, the first zero net energy city.

Being zero net energy means the city produces more solar electricity through solar farms than it can use.

Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris has attributed an increase in employment, new manufacturers moving to the city, and a reduction in crime to the approach to alternative energy.

This week, Mr Parris has been in Kiama on the NSW south coast at the Cities Power Partnership summit, speaking to local council representatives from around Australia about how they might be able to do something similar.

Read the story by Jessica Clifford from ABC News - “US city empowers Australian councils to develop solar as lack of federal climate policy causes concern.”

Hurricane Harvey opens dialogue on climate change in San Francisco.

Harvey has dumped nearly 25 trillion gallons of water on Texas and Louisiana.

Piled on top of the entire city of San Francisco, that water would be more than 2,000 feet tall -- nearly twice the size of Sales Force Tower.

Harvey has dumped nearly 25 trillion 

gallons of water on Texas and Louisiana.

Many hope Harvey will motivate action to combat climate change.

Watch the video in the player above to hear what Congresswoman Jackie Speier had to say on the topic.

Read the ABC7 News story - “Hurricane Harvey opens dialogue on climate change in San Francisco."