As builders and remodelers across the U.S. have begun to embrace solar as a key strategy for creating energy-efficient buildings, many local building officials have wrestled with the permitting, inspection, and zoning issues that go hand in hand with solar.
SolSmart, part of the U.S. DOE’s national SunShot Initiative, is an effort to help communities reduce the regulatory “soft costs” of solar electricity that are often passed on to builders and remodelers.
After less than two years, 100 communities throughout the U.S. have distinguished themselves as “open for solar business” by meeting process and performance criteria in eight categories. These communities are designated SolSmart Bronze, Silver, or Gold.
In October, 56 SolSmart communities received awards for earning more than 60% of available credits in at least one category; 21 of those communities were recognized in multiple categories.
Permitting:
- Adams County, CO
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Cupertino, CA
- Edmonds, WA
- Fremont, CA
- Jefferson County, CO
- Kansas City, MO
- Madison, WI
- New York City
- St. Paul, MN
- Santa Monica, CA
- Somerville, MA
- Sonoma County, CA
Planning, Zoning, & Development:
- Carrboro, NC
- Chicago
- Eau Claire, WI
- Hartford, CT
- Indianapolis
- Lafayette, CO
- Linn County, IA
- Minneapolis
- Pima County, AZ
- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio
- San Carlos, CA
- Santa Monica, CA
- Saratoga Springs, NY
- Sonoma County, CA
- Ypsilanti, MI
Inspection:
- Adams County, CO
- Charleston County, SC
- Chicago
- Claremont, CA
- Columbia, MO
- Contra Costa County, CA
- Coventry, CT
- Davis, CA
- Goshen, IN
- Hillsboro, OR
- Jefferson County, CO
- Kansas City, MO
- Lafayette, CO
- Linn County, IA
- Louisville, KY
- Miami-Dade County, FL
- New York City
- North Kansas City, MO
- Palm Beach County, FL
- Pima County, AZ
- Plano, TX
- Redwood City, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio
- San Carlos, CA
- San Diego County, CA
- Santa Monica, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Saratoga Springs, NY
- Satellite Beach, FL
- Somerville, MA
- Sonoma County, CA
- Summit County, UT
- Washington, DC
Construction Codes:
- Columbia, MO
- Plano, TX
Solar Rights:
- Minneapolis
Utility Engagement:
- Burlington, VT
- Columbia, MO
- Eau Claire, WI
- Lafayette, CO
- Minneapolis
- Missoula, MT
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- Washington, DC
Community Engagement:
- Cambridge, MA
- Eau Claire, WI
- New York, NY
- San Antonio
- Urbana, IL
- Washington, DC
- Ypsilanti, MI
Market Development & Financing:
- Austin, TX
- Boulder, CO
- Fairfield, CT
- Lafayette, CO
- Marin County, CA
- New York City
- San Antonio
- San Francisco
- Sonoma County, CA
