SolSmart

The SolSmart program, established in 2016, is a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office with a mission to reduce solar soft costs and help local governments across the United States expand the use of solar energy in their jurisdictions.[1] It is managed jointly by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council[2] and the International City/County Management Association.[3][4]

SolSmart
Formation2016
PurposeSolSmart is a national program designed to recognize cities, counties, towns, and regional organizations that are encouraging solar energy growth at the local level.
Parent organization
Interstate Renewable Energy Council, International City/County Management Association
Websitehttps://solsmart.org/

SolSmart works with representatives from local governments to adopt nationally recognized best practices to encourage solar energy use.[5][6][7] This guidance covers areas such as zoning, market development, permitting and inspection, and more. SolSmart includes technical assistance providers that work with local government staff at no cost and guide them through the process.[8] Upon meeting the required criteria, a community is awarded Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum designation status.[9]

500 towns, cities, counties, and regional organizations have been designated by the SolSmart program to date. These communities are located in 43 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.[10][11] In 2022, the Department of Energy announced that the SolSmart program was approved for a five-year extension, with a goal of 500 additional community designees.[12][13]

Structure of the SolSmart Program

Technical Assistance

A key component of the SolSmart program is no-cost technical assistance, which features expert guidance on adoption of best practices and codes related to solar at the local level.[5] SolSmart's technical assistance team includes partner organizations with expertise on solar energy and local government. Every municipality, county, and regional organization is eligible to receive this technical assistance at no cost. SolSmart also has an online resource library, including toolkits, training presentations, webinars, and other reports to help meet a community's needs.[14][8]

Designation

Once a community meets certain criteria, the local government receives a designation of SolSmart Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze.[10] A SolSmart designation provides recognition that the local government has made a commitment to solar energy and has taken action to implement a transparent and streamlined permitting and inspection process that does not create barriers to solar projects. For companies looking to move into the area, it's a sign that the community is “open for solar business.”[5][8] The SolSmart program also helps raise the visibility of designated communities, providing marketing templates and general promotion materials and featuring designated communities in SolSmart materials and best practice guides and resources.[15][16] Communities can join the program through a form on the SolSmart website.[17]

Partner Organizations

The SolSmart program is managed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City/County Management Association, but it also includes a dozen partner organizations that work to extend the reach and efficacy of the program. These partner organizations are all experts in solar energy and local government.[18] Supporting partners include:

Efficacy of the SolSmart Program

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that SolSmart has “achieved its intended outcome to promote solar adoption in local communities.”[31] The findings included that SolSmart can lead to increased solar capacity within communities as well as increase local knowledge of solar energy.[31]

History

The SolSmart program launched in 2016.[32] Since the program's inception, it has been managed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City/County Management Association.[1][12] The first group of community designees were announced in September 2016, and included major cities such as Denver,[33] Austin,[34] and Philadelphia,[35] as well as smaller towns such as Redwood City, California[36][37] and Gladstone, Missouri.[38]

Between 2016 and 2023, the SolSmart program designated 500 communities across the U.S., with the 500th community being Ashland, Massachusetts.[39] An additional 500 community designees are planned by 2027. Under the Biden administration, SolSmart is a Justice40 program,[40] with an emphasis on ensuring that at least 40% of new designees are underserved communities.

With the 2023 expansion of the program, SolSmart also announced a new Platinum designation for communities enacting cutting-edge initiatives to advance solar energy at the local level. Previously, only Bronze, Silver, and Gold designations were available. The Program aims to designate another 500 communities by 2027.[41][42]

References
  1. "SolSmart Funding Program". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. "SolSmart". Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  3. "SolSmart". icma.org. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  4. Misbrener, Kelsey (2023-03-24). "SolSmart program plans to certify 500 new localities by 2027". Solar Power World. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  5. "Introducing SolSmart". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  6. Hanley, Steve (2023-04-06). "DOE SolSmart Program Expands To Include Community Solar". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  7. Graham, Lester (2023-04-01). "Free technical advice available to local governments to encourage solar power". Michigan Radio. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  8. "The DOE doubles its SolSmart program, with an aim to boost local solar". Canary Media. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  9. "DOE SolSmart program expands to strengthen local solar energy markets". Solar Builder Magazine. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  10. "SolSmart Program Expands to Strengthen Local Solar Energy Markets". www.nacleanenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  11. "Our Communities". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  12. "DOE Expands SolSmart Program to Deploy More Solar Energy to Underserved Communities". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  13. "DOE-Funded SolSmart Program Expands to Advance Equitable Solar Energy Adoption". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  14. "Resources". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  15. "Featured Communities". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  16. "SolSmart Program Guides (2023)". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  17. "Join SolSmart". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  18. "Our Team". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  19. Crowell, Chris (2021-11-15). "SolSmart simplifies residential battery storage permitting for local governments". Solar Builder Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  20. "On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the need for action is clearer than ever". Cadmus. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  21. Jellings, Jess (2022-06-01). "Statement: GPI Applauds DOE's SolSmart Program Expansion to Increase Clean Energy Access". Great Plains Institute. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  22. "Energy & Sustainability". IBTS. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  23. Moodley, Kasantha (April 14, 2023). "SolSmart: An Invitation to Sign Up or Level Up!". NACo. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  24. "Webinar: "Solsmart: Approach to Solar Energy Adoption"". NADO. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  25. "SolSmart". National Association of Regional Councils. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  26. "SolSmart | NASEO". www.naseo.org. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  27. "SolSmart: Nationally Distinguished. Locally Powered". National League of Cities. 2016-12-07. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  28. "NREL Helps Streamline Solar Power Installations for Local Governments". www.nrel.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  29. "Help Your Community Become SolSmart | SEIA". www.seia.org. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  30. "World Resources Institute". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  31. Gao, Xue; Canfield, Casey; Tang, Tian; Hill, Hunter; Higman, Morgan; Cornwell, John (2022-03-15). "Encouraging voluntary government action via a solar-friendly designation program to promote solar energy in the United States". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 119 (11). doi:10.1073/pnas.2106201119. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 10024248. PMID 35254904.
  32. "Energy Department Announces $102 Million to Tackle Solar Challenges, Expand Access to Clean Electricity". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  33. "Denver". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  34. "Austin wins award for improving access to solar energy". KXAN Austin. 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  35. Misbrener, Kelsey (2018-08-17). "Philadelphia energy industry comes together to celebrate solar growth". Solar Power World. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  36. "SolSmart Designates 7 New Solar-Friendly Communities". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  37. "Energy | City of Redwood City". www.redwoodcity.org. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  38. Higgins, Janelle (2016-11-01). "Missouri Partnership | Economic Development | Solar Program Designated for MO". Missouri Partnership. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  39. "500 Communities Designated! Get Ready for 500 More". SolSmart. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  40. "DOE-Funded SolSmart Program Expands to Advance Equitable Solar Energy Adoption". DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  41. "SolSmart Program Expands to Strengthen Local Solar Energy Markets | AltEnergyMag". www.altenergymag.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  42. "SolSmart technical assistance program targets 1,000 leading solar communities by 2027". pv magazine USA. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
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