The Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a revised second edition of Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments, a comprehensive resource for communities looking to accelerate their adoption of solar energy technologies and capture these benefits. The guide is intended to help communities better understand the steps necessary to permit and license solar energy installations and how to streamline those processes, which can deliver significant cost savings. It also offers guidance for communities on how to develop a plan for expanding their solar energy use and examines ways for local governments to tailor their approach to implementing solar projects based on their community context. The guide makes recommendations in the following seven areas:
1. Organizing and Strategizing a Local Solar Effort – Organizing strategically around solar energy goals will help communities make the best choices when it comes to solar.
2. Making Solar Affordable for Residents and Businesses – Financial incentives and financing mechanisms, such as rebates and grants, help make solar more affordable for residents and businesses, bolstering local market demand.
3. Updating and Enforcing Local Rules and Regulations – Updating and streamlining local rules and regulations, such as permitting and inspection, can help reduce the costs of solar installations and improve the local market environment.
4. Improving Utility Policies and Procedures – Utilities are key partners in increasing the adoption of solar technologies in local communities, and utilities can play a key role in facilitating solar adoption through interconnection standards, net-metering rules, and rate structures.
5. Creating Jobs and Supporting Economic Development – Local governments can play a role in the growth of the domestic renewable energy industry by partnering with solar companies and developing workforce development programs.
6. Educating and Empowering Local Customers – Engaging community stakeholders through outreach activities can promote local solar adoption by increasing consumer knowledge and confidence.
7. Leading by Example with Installations on Government Properties – Integrating solar energy technologies into government facilities can encourage residents and businesses to adopt solar energy systems.
SOURCE: ICMA