SolSmart Designees

Suffolk County

New York
SolSmart Gold
Population: 1,476,601
Designation Level: SolSmart Gold
Year Designated: 2018

Suffolk County’s planning has put solar energy at the forefront, acknowledging the many benefits of using solar and other renewable energy. While the county does not have planning and zoning powers, it has unified its townships to remove local barriers and support the local growth of solar, leading to thousands of residential solar permits every year. Additionally, the county hosts 17 MW of grid-tied solar on county parking lots and at the county airport, which were both financed and built privately. Suffolk County is a promising example of the many ways in which counties without planning and zoning powers can bring together communities to enact effective change and combat climate change.