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SolSmart Designees
Norton
Virginia
Population: 3,981
Designation Level:
SolSmart Bronze
Year Designated:
2019
It’s a juxtaposition between the old and new: an effort to expand solar energy use in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia. Leading this work is the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, a group of nonprofit and community action agencies, colleges, state agencies, planning district commissions, and other interested citizens and businesses seeking to develop a renewable energy industry cluster in the seven coalfield counties of Southwest Virginia.

- 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
We are proud to become a SolSmart community. Our goal is to make it faster, easier, and more affordable for our residents and businesses that want to install solar energy systems.
- Fred Ramey, City Manager