On December 3-5, 2019, SolSmart attended the 11th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit in Key West, Florida. This event gathered elected local government officials and administrators, private sector leaders, and state and federal agencies to discuss Southeast Florida’s climate leadership and critical programs to ensure future resilience in response to the challenges presented by climate change.

The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact is an alliance of 410 communities within four counties in South Florida that aim to advance resilience solutions through regional action. The compact developed a Regional Climate Action Plan, which spans across 12 focus areas including agriculture, water, and emergency management, to be a guiding tool for coordinated climate action. One critical goal of the plan is to increase renewable energy capacity throughout the region. SolSmart has been working extensively in the South Florida region to help many of these communities advance solar energy.

During the Summit, SolSmart organized a recognition event to celebrate the region’s achievements in encouraging the growth of solar energy. SolSmart currently has 27 designated communities in Florida. Among these communities, Palm Beach County, Lake Worth, Lantana, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach received in-depth technical assistance from SolSmart Advisor Jennifer Barenholtz.

She later worked with Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Deerfield Beach, El Portal, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, Miami Shores Village, Miami Dade County, Miramar, Palm Beach County, Pompano Beach, and Tamarac under an engagement with the South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC). SFRPC was selected to host these Florida communities and work them to meet their solar energy development goals. These efforts are in parallel with the energy goals the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact has set out the region.