Goshen News
City receives award for advancing solar energy growth
08/01/2017
SolSmart Designees
Goshen
Indiana
- Hosted a Community “Solarize” campaign, Solarize Goshen, allowing residents to benefit from group discounts and affordable solar financing
- Installed or leased land for solar development on brownfields, landfills, formerly contaminated lands and/or other under-utilized properties
- Shared SIREN Solar Indiana’s interactive solar map on the community’s solar landing page
- 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
This initiative will help put us at the top tier of communities in Indiana that are striving to become more environmentally friendly. And our efforts shouldn’t stop here. I would like to invite everyone in the community to help us find efficiencies that will continue to benefit our quality of life.
- Jeremy Stutsman, Goshen Mayor
