SolSmart recently announced that 11 communities will host SolSmart Advisors, experienced professionals who will help these communities cut red tape and reduce the cost of going solar. The advisors completed training and will work full time in the communities for up to six months.
The advisers have experience in fields such as public policy, local government, and environmental and energy consulting. They will assist communities in evaluating programs and practices that impact the ability of solar companies to do business, such as planning and zoning, permitting, and inspection.
Municipalities, counties, and regional organizations applied to host the advisers through a competitive process. The 11 locations, listed below, were selected based on their potential to benefit from the advisors’ in-depth technical assistance.
- Colorado: City of Lafayette and Adams County
- Georgia: City of Atlanta
- Massachusetts: Metropolitan Area Planning Council
- Michigan and Indiana: Michiana Area Council of Governments
- Minnesota: Metropolitan Council partnering with Great Plains Institute (Central MN); City of Duluth (Northern MN)
- North Carolina: Town of Chapel Hill & Town of Carrboro, Orange County, partnering with North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
- Oklahoma: City of Oklahoma City
- Pennsylvania and New Jersey: Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
- Rhode Island: City of Providence
- Virginia: City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County
“The SolSmart Advisors program will provide Oklahoma City with the ability to develop its solar sector in a way that drives educational opportunities, job creation, technological innovation, and sustainable growth and development,” says David Brent Grantham, founder at RedwoodAdaptive and an adviser for Oklahoma City. “I look forward to advising the city’s Office of Sustainability and other stakeholders as we begin to identify, design, and implement the best permitting, planning, market development, and financial opportunities introduced in this process.”
If you are a builder or developer interested in SolSmart, introduce your local building department to the program and its benefits. SolSmart can provide resources such as sample code and policy language, statistics and data, expert advice by phone or email, and on-site technical assistance.
Home Innovation also will help contact local officials. Visit HomeInnovation.com/SolSmartContact and provide the contact information for the person who would be receptive to this opportunity.
