If you are ready to receive high-profile, national recognition as a SolSmart designee, download the full program guide to learn more.

SolSmart is a national designation program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities (SPARC) initiative, designed to recognize communities that have taken key steps to address local barriers to solar energy
and foster the growth of mature local solar markets. The SolSmart program primarily seeks to address “solar soft costs,” or business process or administrative costs that can increase the time and money it takes to install a solar energy system — costs which are then passed
on to solar customers. While only certain local government policies and processes (such as permitting, planning, and zoning) are the source of some soft costs, local governments are in a unique position to reduce soft costs and take action to promote the use of solar locally.

The SolSmart designation program provides high-profile, national recognition for communities that have made it cheaper and easier for solar customers to invest in solar energy. In addition, achieving designation sends a signal to solar companies that a community is “open for business,” attracting new businesses and helping designees share in the economic development benefits attached to the solar industry.