SolSmart Application is Live!

The Dawning of a New National Solar Designation Program

SolSmart

The Solar Foundation is pleased to announce that SPARC (Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities) is relaunching as SolSmart (www.solsmart.org). Along with the new program name, SolSmart is today releasing the finalized criteria for designation. Cities and counties nationwide can now apply to receive official national designation – at either a Bronze, Silver, or Gold tier - for taking action and reducing the cost of solar locally.

Funded through the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, SolSmart will provide national recognition to leading solar cities and counties and empower new communities to become solar leaders through no-cost technical assistance. One component of this technical assistance, which also launched today, is the SolSmart Advisors program (see sidebar). SolSmart Advisors are fully-funded, temporary staff that will work within nearly 40 communities for up to six months.

SolSmart helps communities address solar “soft costs.” These business process or administrative costs can increase the time and money it takes to install a solar energy system – costs which are passed on to solar customers and limit solar market potential. Local governments are uniquely positioned to reduce soft costs and take action to promote solar in local jurisdictions. By taking actions and earning SolSmart designation, a community signals to solar companies and others that it is “open for [solar] business.” This signal can help attract new solar firms, and lower costs for residents and local governments.

SolSmart Advisors are program-funded staff that will provide in-person technical assistance to about 40 communities nationwide. After undergoing a thorough training regime from national solar experts, SolSmart Advisors will be dispatched to these communities for up to six months. Once working within a community, a SolSmart Advisor will evaluate existing policies and processes and apply industry-leading best practices to help the host community achieve designation. Communities can apply to host a SolSmart Advisor through an open, competitive process running through the end of June 2016.

SolSmart Early Adopters
We are excited to share that TSF is already working with cities and counties throughout the United States to help them achieve solar best practices. Over the last several months, TSF and its team of national solar experts have provided technical assistance to about 30 communities through the SolSmart “Early Adopter” program. These communities signed on to address issues relating to solar permitting, planning and zoning, and finance, in advance of knowing the final designation criteria. We will be announcing these communities and celebrating their achievements over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

The Dawning of a New National Solar Designation Program

The Solar Foundation® (TSF) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase understanding of solar energy through strategic research and education that transforms markets.