Next City
Border City Wants to Harness the Power of the Sun
05/07/2018
SolSmart Designees
Brownsville
Texas
- Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers.
- Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
- Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings)
- Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV
We don’t have very high income. So, one of the goals pushing forward with this was to try to lower local government energy use as well as to create a program in the future that could benefit low-income households and apartments.
- Francesca Linder, City of Brownsville Zoning Department
