Cities producing net positive energy consumption

It is incredible to think, entire cities producing net positive energy instead of sapping the grid, but what is more incredible is that “More than 800 Italian communities now make more energy than they use because of the recent addition of renewable energy plants.” According to Elisabeth Rosenthal’s New York Times article, this fact brings dreams of not writing that monthly utility company check. While I read the NYT’s, I see former president Carter 30 year old replay on CNN installing a solar power water heater in the White House claiming the year 2000 this will be standard, I am sure now in 2010 we have missed that mark. However, I see focus by our customers, lenders, investors, and designers that these sustainable practices are trending significantly in the right direction. Now the daily question comes is how do we make Indianapolis and Milhaus projects net positive energy creators, a precursor to creating net energy cities?