April 26, 2011 - A new report co-published by Joint Venture, Optony and the World Resources Institute demonstrates how governments and businesses can save money by joining together to buy solar power. The report, Purchasing Power: Best Practices Guide for Collaborative Solar Procurement was issued in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities annual meeting in Philadelphia. Collaborative solar purchasing allows governments, businesses or universities in the same region to collectively negotiate solar power contracts. The “Purchasing Power” guide presents an innovative approach to solar power purchasing that can yield 10 to 15 percent lower costs and save 75 percent of administrative time and fees, while helping participants negotiate better contract terms to save money in the long run.