Sustainable States Network: Linking State-Based Recognition Programs
One of the greatest strengths of the SolSmart program is our extensive network of partnerships—with states, regional organizations, nonprofits, and...
One of the greatest strengths of the SolSmart program is our extensive network of partnerships—with states, regional organizations, nonprofits, and...
Getting a permit to install residential rooftop solar panels and solar-plus-storage systems used to be a logistical burden that could...
Local governments: Do you have a moment to answer two quick questions? To improve the SolSmart program, we’d like to...
As one of the latest SolSmart Gold designees, Cuyahoga County, Ohio has undertaken an ambitious set of initiatives to expand...
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently announced 12 candidates for the first round of its SolarAPP+ Prize, and four...
Olympia, the capital of Washington State, was designated SolSmart Gold earlier this year. To encourage solar energy growth, the city...
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced recipients of funds from the Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) program,...
Nestled on the southern shore of Lake Michigan near Indiana Dunes National Park, Michigan City, Indiana is one of the...
The Inflation Reduction Act enacted this year includes many new tax credits and other incentives for solar energy. Below are...
The City of Bloomington, Indiana recently joined the ranks of SolSmart Gold designees. Bloomington worked hard to increase access to...
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with World Resources Institute, is opening applications for three peer-learning cohorts for...
Cuyahoga County, Ohio recently celebrated its SolSmart Gold designation, earned after years of diligent work to make solar power easier...
Jurisdictions Could Win Up to $15,000 With SolarAPP+ Prize The U.S Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office recently launched...
Last week, SolSmart team members were at RE+, the annual conference on solar energy, battery storage, and related industries. This...
From September 17 – 22, 4,200 local government professionals gathered in Columbus, Ohio for five days of learning, networking, and...
Registration is open for the ICMA Annual Conference that will be held in Columbus, Ohio from September 17 – 21,...
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania, the Centre Region Council of Governments encompasses six municipalities, the Penn State campus, and...
We are thrilled to announce that the SolSmart program has been expanded to help another 500 communities in the next...
Five rural municipalities in Puerto Rico’s Cordillera Central — Barranquitas, Ciales, Morovis, Orocovis, and Villalba — have achieved SolSmart Bronze,...
At the State Energy Conference of North Carolina, the SolSmart team joined the NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) to...
Six communities in Idaho have received SolSmart designation for their efforts to cut red tape and make it easier for...
Join the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the American Planning Association in their 9-part webinar series that is focused...
In a virtual event on March 17 at Argonne National Laboratory, SolSmart recognized 10 new Chicago-area communities for achieving SolSmart...
A groundbreaking study offers exciting news for SolSmart: Our program is helping local governments significantly increase solar energy capacity after...
Zoning or land use regulations are one of the core arenas where local governments can make a difference in solar...
A new blog post from the U.S. Department of Energy is celebrating the latest SolSmart designees as we encourage more...
We’re excited to welcome the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) as the latest SolSmart Advisor, focused on helping...
The SolSmart program helps communities become “open for solar business.” Our Regional Organization pathway is bringing the benefits of SolSmart to...
SolSmart is excited to release an updated version of the national Simplified Permit Guidelines for residential solar, including new guidance...
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm is challenging 60 new communities to achieve SolSmart designation in the next six months, which...
In 2017, Oklahoma City only issued one permit for residential solar. Yet local officials saw untapped potential for solar energy...
From the city of Columbus to surrounding rural areas, Central Ohio faces many challenges when it comes to accelerating solar...
SolSmart has prepared a short flyer on how local governments can receive points toward designation by using an automated permitting...
How can local governments integrate solar energy plans with their goals for community resilience? And how can they locate the...
SolSmart has continued to grow rapidly since its public launch in April 2016. Over 400 municipalities, counties, and regional organizations...
The SolSmart program has reached an exciting new milestone: Over 400 municipalities, counties, and regional organizations have achieved designation! SolSmart...
We’re excited to share a new online tool from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) known as Solar TRACE. With...
For communities that have already achieved SolSmart Bronze or Silver, we invite you to take the Solstice Level-Up Challenge by...
OKI Regional Council of Governments (OKI) has received a Silver designation from the national SolSmart program for helping local governments...
The updated SolSmart Program Guide provides an overview of the 75 actions in five categories that communities can undertake to...
The SolSmart program updated the standard pathway criteria by improving language and ensuring the criteria reflects the most up-to-date national...
A new playbook for local governments will help Southwest Virginia communities develop large-scale solar energy projects, taking advantage of the...
SolSmart has released a new issue brief highlighting strategies that can help communities and local governments develop policies and guidelines...
In Sarasota County, Florida, local authorities know that sustainability goes hand in hand with improving people’s lives. That’s why the...
Santa Fe, New Mexico recently became a SolSmart Bronze designee as the third community in New Mexico to achieve SolSmart...
Depending on local circumstances, communities will follow many paths toward increasing solar energy use. While some put most of their...
SolSmart has released a new report showing how local governments can accelerate and enhance clean energy outcomes by promoting both...
The Solar Automated Permitting Processing (SolarAPP) initiative is a collaborative effort to develop an instant online permitting program for code-compliant...
Many local governments are interested in renewable energy procurement as a way to directly expand clean energy use. To learn...
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has received a Bronze designation from the national SolSmart program for helping...
Solar energy is booming in Florida, which now ranks fifth in the nation for solar installations and second for the...
Update: This webinar has been postponed. We will follow up soon with a new date and time for the webinar....
A community choice aggregation (CCA) is a local program, enabled by state legislation, that provides municipalities greater control over their...
For both large and small communities, there is growing interest in achieving 100 percent clean or renewable energy. A free...
As a national program, SolSmart is ready to help all types of local governments go solar, from major cities to...
Announcing the newest SolSmart Advisors! SolSmart is partnering with experts at the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME)...
A One-Stop Solar Toolkit for Local Governments What are the first steps for developing a solar project on a brownfield?...
SolSmart is excited to announce a new opportunity, The SolSmart Mentorship program. Under this new program, local governments facing local...
Is your community considering getting involved in SolSmart? If you’ve perused our website and are looking for more information, check...
Join SolSmart on Monday, April 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time for our webinar titled, Solar + Storage: A Guide...
Go To COVID-19 Solar Resources & Solutions At SolSmart, we are getting increased interest from our communities in methods and...
As solar energy booms across the country thanks to plummeting costs, more and more communities will have the opportunity to...
It’s a juxtaposition between the old and new: an effort to expand solar energy use in the coalfields of Southwest...
Western Pennsylvania, home to coal mines and natural gas wells, might not be the first place you think of when...
Using their status as SolSmart Advisor, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus took a collaborative approach to earn the most SolSmart designated...
Settled in the mid-eighteenth century just seven miles from Boston, the city of Melrose has offered its residents a compromise...
Join us on Wednesday, January 22 at 2 pm ET for our webinar titled, Developing Solar on Brownfields. Formerly contaminated...
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International City/County Management Association hosted the 2019 National Brownfields Training Conference...
On December 3-5, 2019, SolSmart attended the 11th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit in Key West, Florida. This...
SolSmart has announced the winners of the 2019 SolSmart Innovation Award. The 2019 SolSmart Innovation Award saw applications from a...
This blogpost was originally published by the Great Plains Institute More communities than ever are using solar energy thanks in...
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the City of Los Angeles, the South Bay region is home to pristine beaches...
The city of Nashville, Tennessee, is typically known as an attraction for its live music, but last week, it was...
The Catskills region in New York State is not just home to beautiful mountains, but also a county setting aggressive...
From Anchorage, Alaska, to Sarasota, Florida, more than 300 local governments have now received SolSmart designation for encouraging the growth...
Join us on Tuesday, October 15 at 2pm ET for our webinar titled, Planning and Zoning Best Practices for Large-scale...
Join us on Monday, August 26 at 2pm ET for our webinar titled, How to Develop a Solarize Campaign. In...
Southwest Virginia is open for solar business! Eight communities in this region have achieved SolSmart designation for encouraging the growth...
Last week, SolSmart attended the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) 84th Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada. The...
SolSmart recently hosted a webinar titled Decision Support Tools for Local Solar Planning & Deployment, where several of our experts...
Has your community or county implemented an innovative solar action or program? If so, we encourage you to apply for...
As of September 2018, 43 percent of U.S. households were low to moderate income (LMI) – income levels lower than...
SolSmart has surpassed a historic milestone! Over 250 municipalities, counties, and regional organizations have received a SolSmart designation for making...
Last week, Illinois took an important step forward in solar power growth – with resulting new job creation, economic development...
In partnership with the Ramsey County, Minnesota Government, the Metropolitan Council, and the Great Plains Institute, SolSmart co-hosted the 2019...
SolSmart’s Expanding Solar Participation through Community Solar: A Win-Win-Win for Municipalities, Utilities, and their Customers webinar was held on April...
Are you interested in turning your city, town, or county into a SolSmart community? Check out SolSmart’s updated Program Guide...
Regional organizations can play a significant role in fostering or developing thriving solar markets. They are uniquely positioned to advance...
As solar energy grows nationwide, local governments continue to play a significant role in its expansion. Through the adoption of...
Good news for Regional Organizations interested in advancing regional solar efforts! Through SolSmart’s new Regional Organization Pathway, the Metropolitan Council...
SolSmart is hosting two exciting webinars in March: Join us on Tuesday, March 5th at 2pm ET for our webinar...
In January, SolSmart hosted a webinar titled Best Practices in Solar Planning and Zoning, where we discussed best practices for...
Once known for its smokestacks and steel mills, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has worked hard to reinvent itself as a renaissance city...
Exciting news!! Twenty cities, towns, and counties in Colorado have now received designation from the national SolSmart program for making...
Permitting is one of the biggest roadblocks when it comes to the growth of solar at the local level. Across...
Late last month, we held our SolSmart Advisor training seminar in Washington, D.C. to help prepare our new Advisors to...
We recently released the newest version of the SolSmart application. In addition to determining if a community receives a designation,...
The National League of Cities (NLC) held its annual City Summit conference last week in Los Angeles. This conference was...
The city of Orlando, Florida is a SolSmart Gold designee that stands out for surpassing ‘solar-ready’ and aiming to make...
Last week, we co-hosted a webinar with Environment America and National League of Cities titled Resources and Success Stories for...
Last week, SolSmart attended and exhibited at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. ICMA leads...
As solar energy continues to grow and mature, changes occur: Best practices improve, standards and requirements are updated, and newer,...
SolSmart has grown at a rapid pace since its public launch in April 2016. Over 214 cities, towns, and counties...
When we think of solar-friendly cities, traditionally the first ones that come to mind might be in California or the...
Local governments play a fundamental role in shaping energy choices in their communities. To help them make informed decisions, SolSmart...
A SolSmart designation recognizes the hard work a community undertakes to make solar energy accessible to more homes and businesses....
There are over 200 cities, counties, and small towns across the nation that have achieved SolSmart designation. Today, we’ll highlight...
Washington, D.C., May 1, 2018 – Lee’s Summit, Missouri was designated today as SolSmart Gold, marking the 200th local government...
We are pleased to announce the opening of the application process for the third round of SolSmart Advisors. SolSmart Advisors...
Local governments have a lot to celebrate when it comes to their communities going solar. As of now, 125 cities,...
Big news: More than 100 cities, counties, and small towns across America are designated SolSmart Gold, Silver, or Bronze! Since...
If you are ready to receive high-profile, national recognition as a SolSmart designee, download the full program guide to learn...
SolSmart will be at the 103rd International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas from October 22-25. As...
The SolSmart team was at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference in Franklin County, Ohio, this weekend to announce a host...
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has announced the winners of their 2017 SolSmart County Challenge. As a component of the...
SolSmart is happy to announce new communities ready to host the second round of SolSmart Advisors, experienced professionals who will...
Just over a year after the SolSmart program launched, 58 communities in 25 states have achieved designation as “open for...
This week, SolSmart officially designated seven new cities and counties for making solar energy more affordable and accessible — and...
This week, at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, SolSmart was proud to recognize new county governments achieving...
We have some important information to share for county governments pursuing a SolSmart designation. First, we have established a Modified Designation...
The SolSmart program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory present two FREE in-person workshops in Minnesota for current and prospective SolSmart communities....
SolSmart is excited to announce that 11 communities will be hosting SolSmart Advisors, experienced professionals who will help these communities...
SolSmart is happy to announce the next opportunity to host a SolSmart Advisor. SolSmart Advisors are program-funded, temporary staff members that...
Today, SolSmart is recognizing seven new cities and counties for making it faster, easier, and cheaper to go solar. These...
Cities and counties across the nation should be aware of a great opportunity to expand solar energy development and lower...
We’re proud of the work communities around the country are doing to make it faster, easier, and cheaper to go...
SolSmart is a national program with local impacts. Since it was announced in April, SolSmart has been helping communities across...
City and county staff time can often be stretched thin. Public servants must ensure that all of their community’s needs...
The Solar Foundation and the International City/County Management Association are pleased to announce the launch of the SolSmart (www.solsmart.org) program....
The Solar Foundation (TSF) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) are pleased to announce that next week the Solar...
**UPDATE: Advisors fact sheet posted in the Thursday, March 31 section below** Since its announcement last fall, the Solar Powering America by...
Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities (SPARC) will establish a national recognition and technical assistance program for local governments. In...
START WORKING TOWARD NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR YOUR COMMUNITY TODAY! In September 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a new initiative –...