Cities and counties across the nation should be aware of a great opportunity to expand solar energy development and lower electricity costs for homes and businesses. SolSmart, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, provides official recognition and no-cost technical assistance to help cities and counties advance solar energy.

One of the most exciting aspects of the SolSmart program is the opportunity to host a SolSmart Advisor. These Advisors are fully-funded, temporary staff who work in cities and counties for periods of up to six months. They provide intensive technical assistance to communities looking to adopt solar-friendly programs and practices.

SolSmart is now seeking qualified candidates for Advisor positions in communities across the country. We’re looking for highly-motivated, experienced self-starters who will use their professional experience to help cities and counties go solar. If you are interested in applying, a list of communities with links to detailed position descriptions can be found here.

These Advisors will work with their Host Communities to reduce soft costs and remove barriers to going solar. They will help cities and counties achieve official SolSmart designation at the gold, silver, and bronze levels, which constitutes official recognition that the community is “open for solar business.”

The ideal candidate for an Advisor is a mid-career professional with a graduate degree and some experience (or a Bachelor’s degree and additional experience) in a relevant field such as planning, public policy, engineering, or sustainability. The Advisor will earn a generous stipend of $1,250 per week and gain valuable experience by working with community staff and other stakeholders to address solar issues.

We hope you pass this along to any potential candidates, or any person or organization that may have links to qualified individuals. Please find more information by viewing the list of Host Communities now.