Resource Library

Providing a set of requirements for the local solar permitting process (for both residential and commercial solar) on an easy-to-find local government webpage represents a major step toward overcoming informational barriers. An online solar permit checklist can be a simple way for a community to accelerate permit approval timelines and save staff time.

The Solar Workgroup, in partnership with SolSmart and the Solar Foundation, has created an introductory guide for local governments to facilitate large-scale solar projects in Southwest Virginia.

Energy development is the largest driver of land-use and land-cover change in the United States. Today, one of the leading forms of this new development is large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. This new issue brief is intended to educate local governments and community stakeholders interested in supporting solar development.

This SolSmart webinar served as a refresher on simplified solar permitting and inspection best practices for residential systems.

The report, Solar and Electric Vehicles: A Guide for Local Governments, provides a roadmap for municipalities, counties, and regional organizations to maximize the benefits of these two technologies together.

This webinar covers strategies local governments can consider to procure renewable energy and support renewable energy market development, including power purchase agreements (PPAs), virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), community solar, and more.

This webinar focused on community choice aggregation (CCA) as a potential strategy for local governments to achieve their clean energy goals.

This SolSmart webinar provided an overview of the approaches to setting clean energy goals and processes for identifying the most impactful and appropriate implementation strategies, including considerations related to the COVID-19 crisis. The webinar also highlighted case studies from communities that have developed clean energy plans.

This SolSmart issue brief provides an overview of how CCA is organized, the process local governments can use for establishing a CCA, and how a CCA can be used to increase solar deployment.

The pairing of solar energy and energy storage technologies presents several opportunities of increased value for communities. This webinar provided an introduction into the topic including markets, tariffs, benefits, and interconnection agreements. It then included a deeper study of permitting considerations for communities such as safety, resources and existing challenges. Lastly, SolSmart communities with solar and storage experience are highlighted.