Resource Library

Browse the SolSmart resource library to find reports, webinars, and online templates, or search for a resource by category.

Featured

SolSmart Program Guides (2023)

| By SolSmart
The SolSmart program guides are comprehensive resources for local governments with information on the SolSmart designation and technical assistance process. Participants should download the program guide that corresponds to their designation pathway.
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Report

SolSmart Issue Brief: Expanding Solar Participation Through Community Solar

| SolSmart
This SolSmart Issue Brief describes the community solar model and highlights approaches for developing new projects. It discusses why community solar can be beneficial, the ingredients of successful programs, and case studies of successful community solar programs across the country.
Government Operations
Webinar

SolSmart Webinar: Decision Support Tools for Local Solar Planning & Deployment

| SolSmart
These tools, largely developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), allow local government staff to 1) better understand their community’s solar resource potential; 2) explore the economics of developing solar and storage projects within their communities; and 3) plan and develop policy to incentivize solar.
Market Development Planning and Zoning
Report

SolSmart Issue Brief: Solar + Storage, A Guide For Local Governments

| SolSmart, Cadmus
This SolSmart Issue Brief helps local governments understand and benefit from energy storage technologies.
Market Development
Webinar

SolSmart Webinar Part 2: Projects & Programs in Low-to-Moderate Income Communities

| SolSmart
This is the second part of the SolSmart webinar series on solar and energy efficiency in low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities. This webinar provides examples of projects and programs already demonstrating significant advancement of solar and energy efficiency in LMI communities.
Webinar

SolSmart Webinar Part 1: Resources to Support Initiatives for Low-to-Moderate Income Communities

| SolSmart
This SolSmart webinar serves as an educational resource for local governments interested in better understanding market barriers and expanding solar and energy efficiency deployment in low to moderate income (LMI) communities.
Report

SolSmart Issue Brief: Expanding Solar Participation Through Community Solar

| SolSmart, Electric Power Research Institute
This SolSmart Issue Brief describes the community solar model and highlights approaches for developing new projects. It discusses why community solar can be beneficial, the ingredients of successful programs, and case studies of successful community solar programs across the country.
Government Operations
Webinar

SolSmart Webinar: Expanding Solar Participation through Community Solar

| SolSmart
This SolSmart webinar describes the community solar concept and the various models employed to implement it. It also discusses the enabling regulatory and legislative conditions that are key to deployment, and presents several case studies that can be emulated by other communities.
Webinar

SolSmart Webinar: Developing and Promoting Solar at the Regional Level

| SolSmart
In this SolSmart webinar, panelists discuss case studies of how regional organizations promote and help implement effective local solar policies. Panelists also examine SolSmart’s new Regional Organization Pathway, which supports regional solar efforts through the provision of no-cost technical assistance.
Community Engagement
Webinar

SolSmart Webinar: Making Solar & Electrification Policies Mutually Beneficial

| SolSmart
For local governments, using low-cost solar power can make electrification policies more cost-effective — and using electrified services wisely can make solar installations more valuable. This SolSmart webinar provides several case studies that demonstrate what some local governments are doing now to collaborate with their utilities on programs that produce complementary benefits for solar and electrification policies.
Webinar

SolSmart Webinar: Best Practices in Solar Planning and Zoning

| SolSmart
This webinar addresses best practices for including solar in land use plans and your community’s zoning ordinance. Learn how local governments can 1) Set solar development goals; 2) Ensure solar farm development creates agricultural, environmental, and water quality co-benefits; 3) Address “solar-ready” concepts in their zoning ordinances; 4) Capture benefits of solar development while minimizing risks; 5) Provide maximum siting options for rooftop and ground mount solar while preserving a community’s character and historic resources; and 6) Include solar in local planning documents.
Solar panels in a green field under a blue sky.

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