SolSmart
Four SolSmart Communities Are Eligible for SolarAPP+ Prize
12/02/2022
SolSmart Designees
Fremont
California
- Hosted a Community “Solarize”, the Bay Area Sunshares Program, allowing residents to bulk-buy and benefit from group discounts and affordable solar financing
- Installed over 1.5MW of solar on local facilities including solar PV projects at the City of Fremont’s Police Complex (872 kW), Aqua Adventure Water Park (226 kW), Maintenance Center (349 kW), and Irvington Community Center (83kW)
- Provided Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for eligible properties
- 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
- Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems
