The SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership produced briefing papers, case studies, technical reports, fact sheets, how-to guides, and other resources for local governments seeking to make solar a mainstream energy source.
Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments
This guide can help stimulate ideas or provide a framework for a comprehensive solar plan for a community. It introduces a range of policy and program options that can help a community build a local solar infrastructure. Download
Solar Briefing Papers
The American Planning Association has prepared a series of briefing papers and an introductory podcast designed to help planners and public officials understand some key issues in planning for solar energy use. These and other resources can be accessed at on the APA website.
- Solar Community Engagement Strategies for Planners
- Solar Mapping
- Integrating Solar Energy into Local Plans
- Integrating Solar Energy into Local Development Regulations
- Balancing Solar Energy Use with Potential Competing Interests
- Recycling Land for Solar Energy Development
Survey Results
The 2016 ICMA Solar Survey covers challenges to solar energy development, local initiatives, permitting and interconnection, planning, and financing options. View the report.
Case Studies
Bring Solar to Your Community: Themes, Insights, and Summaries from 27 Case Studies: Distills themes and insights of roof-top solar PV deployment gained from 27 case studies of local government efforts regarding policies, planning, investments, financing mechanisms, partnerships, and education.
Profiles in Regional Solar Planning: A Handbook and Resource Guide: Prepared by the National Association of Regional Councils, this is a resource for regional council directors and their energy, sustainability, and environmental planners, as well as the local elected officials who govern the regional councils, to learn how regional planning organizations can play a key role in moving solar energy development forward. By focusing on case studies and regionally specific tools, the guide seeks to be a practical and applicable resource.
Mid-America Regional Council: Solar Ready KC Initiative
Lenox, Massachusetts Solar Case Study
Santa Barbara, California Solar Case Study
Aurora, Colorado Solar Case Study
Park City, Utah Solar Case Study
Western Riverside Council of Governments Regional PACE Program
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments: Clean Energy Collaborative Procurement Initiative
Long Island Unified Solar Permitting Initiative: Suffolk & Nassau County Planning Commission
Pima Association of Governments: Regional Solar Plan Case Study
Denver Regional Council of Governments: Solar Map Project Case Study
Merrimack Valley Regional Commission: Clean Energy Action Plan Case Study
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission: Alternative Energy Ordinance
What is the Value of Solar: Austin, TX Case Study
Solar in Small Communities: River Falls, WI Case Study
Solar in Small Communities: Columbia, MO Case Study
Solar in Small Communities: Gaston County, NC Case Study
Solar Case Study: Asheville, NC
Solar Case Study: Fort Collins, CO
Solar Case Study: Franklin, TN
Solar Case Study: Gainesville, FL
Solar Case Study: Knoxville, TN
Solar Case Study: Polk County, FL
Solar Case Study: Prince George's County, MD
Solar Case Study: Summit County, UT
Solar Case Study: Beaverton, OR
Solar Case Study: Barnstable, MA
Solar Case Study: Lancaster, CA
Solar Case Study: Chapel Hill, NC
Solar Case Study: Cincinnati, OH
Solar Case Study: Milwaukee, WI
Solar Case Study: Nashville, TN
Solar Case Study: Richmond, CA
Solar Case Study: Solar Ready II
Solar Case Study: Solarize Asheville
Solarize Frederick County, Maryland
SolarShares: Expanding Access to Solar Power
Minimizing Overlap in PV System Approval Processes: Case Studies & Analysis
Harmonizing Solar PV Permitting Interconnection in Santa Clara, CA
Salt River Project: Integrating Community Solar PV into Green Power
Harmonizing Interconnection and Permitting Processes: Vermont Public Service Board
Technical Reports
Rethinking Standby & Fixed Cost Charges
Renewable Energy Tariffs for Large Utility Customers
Solar in Remote Applications in the U.S.
Aggregate Net Metering: Opportunities for Local Governments
Project Permit: Best Practices in Solar Permitting with VoteSolar
Model Rules for Shared Renewable Energy Programs
Unlocking DG Value: A PURPA-Based Approach to Promoting DG Growth
Blueprint for the Development of Distributed Generation in California
12,000 MW of Renewable Distributed Generation by 2020: Benefits, Costs, & Policy Implications
The Intersection of Net Metering & Retail Choice: An Overview of Policy, Practice & Issues
Field Inspection Guidelines for Solar PV Systems 2010
Property Taxes and Solar PV Systems
Model Interconnection Procedures
Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems
Sharing Success: Emerging Approaches to Efficient Rooftop Solar Permitting
2009 Model Net Metering Rules (IREC)
A Comprehensive Review of Solar Access Law in the United States
Model Inspection Checklist for Rooftop PV Systems
Fact Sheets
Making the Case for Solar Fact Sheet
Working with Stakeholders Fact Sheet
Training and Certification Fact Sheet
Streamline Permitting & Inspection Processes Fact Sheet
Regional PACE Program Fact Sheet
Collaborative Procurement Fact Sheet
Community Choice Aggregation Fact Sheet
Community Shared Solar: Diverse Approaches for a Common Goal
Local Governments and Bulk Solar Purchasing Fact Sheet
Solar PV Emergency & Resilience Planning Fact Sheet
The State of the Solar Industry Fact Sheet
Solar and Grid Stability Fact Sheet
Solar as a Revenue Generator Fact Sheet
Leasing Municipal and Private Property for Solar Fact Sheet
Solar Myths and the Costs of Going Solar Fact Sheet
Solar Myths & Misconceptions II Fact Sheet
Steps to a Successful Solar RFP Fact Sheet
Mt Pleasant Solar Co-op Fact Sheet
Rooftop Solar PV and Firefighter Safety
Integrating Solar PV into Energy Services Performance Contracts
Commercial PACE Financing Factsheet
Emerging Approaches to Efficient Rooftop Solar Permitting: A Summary
The Role of Municipal Utilities in Driving Solar Deployment
Solarize Programs: North Carolina
Residential Solar Permitting Best Practices Explained
Simplifying the Solar Permitting Best Practices: The Importance of Consistency
Planning for Solar Energy Quicknotes
How-To Guides
Solar Guidebook for New Jersey Municipalities
A Residential Customer Guide to Going Solar: Duke Energy Carolinas Version
Utility Community Solar Handbook
A Regulator's Guidebook: Calculating the Benefits and Costs of Distributed Solar Generation
A Guide to Preparing Solar Permitting Checklists
Community Renewables Model Program Rules
Connecting to the Grid Guide 6th Edition
Profiles in Regional Solar Planning: A Handbook and Resource Guide
Installing Solar Panels on Historic Buildings
Solar Ready Buildings Planning Guide
Bring Solar to Your Community: Themes, Summaries and Insights from 27 Case Studies
Solar Readiness
How-to Guide: Solar-Ready Buildings Planning Guide
This National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) planning guide presents detailed guidelines on designing solar-ready buildings with minimized costs and maximized energy potential. www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/46078.pdf
PAS Essential Info Packet
This PAS Essential Info Packet brings together articles and guidebooks, comprehensive plan sections, and an extensive collection of sample ordinances covering solar access, solar energy systems, and more. http://www.planning.org/pas/infopackets/open/eip30.htm
Planning for Solar Energy Quicknotes
Public officials and engaged citizens have many opportunities throughout the planning process to help support and advance solar energy initiatives in their communities.
This Oro Valley ordinance requiring installation of solar-ready measures in new residential homes demonstrates how to enable solar-ready designs through effective policy and legislation. www.orovalleyaz.gov/Assets/_assets/DIS/Permitting/Residential+Solar+Ordinance+09-11.PDF
Solar Energy Education & Training Best Practices: The Series
IREC assembled some of the best experts in the country on solar training, education, and workforce development to create this compendium of Best Practices. The documents were thoughtfully designed to give solar instructors the right tools for the job of training a highly skilled, globally competitive solar energy workforce for the 21st Century. This suite of Best Practices documents builds on IREC’s earlier versions of Best Practices from 2008 and 2010. http://www.irecusa.org/publications/best-practices-the-series/
Campaign Organizing
How-to Guide: Solarize Guidebook
The NREL’s “Solarize Guidebook” acts as roadmap for project planners and solar advocates trying to jump-start their own successful Solarize campaigns. www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54738.pdf
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Encouraging Solar Development through Community Association Policies and Processes
This guide discusses the advantages of solar energy and examines the elements of state solar rights provisions designed to protect homeowner access to these benefits. It presents a number of recommendations associations can use to help bring solar to their communities. http://thesolarfoundation.org/sites/thesolarfoundation.org/files/HOA%20Guide_Final.pdf
This guide aims to assist local governments in engaging lending institutions on financing residential and small commercial solar PV projects to increase the adoption of solar power in their communities.
Property Taxes and Solar PV Systems
This report is intended as a resource for industry stakeholders, property owners, and state adn local government officials involved in the administration of property taxes and details current state practices associated with the assessment and taxation of PV equipment.
Zoning Codes
Technical Report:The Pennsylvania Model Ordinance
The Pennsylvania Model Ordinance (found on page 12 of the pdf linked below) provides a model for local governments establishing reasonable standards in their development of small-scale solar. These standards center on permitting, height restrictions, and design and installation requirements. files.dep.state.pa.us/Energy/Office%20of%20Energy%20and%20Technology/OETDPortalFiles/PA%20Energy/Solar%20Working%20Group/SolarMunicipalGuideFinal.pdf
Technical Report: The Massachusetts Model Zoning Bylaw
The Massachusetts Model Zoning Bylaw sets forth a framework for standards facilitating the development of large-scale solar, which typically include requirements concerning primary use, height limits, lot coverage, setback, and fencing and enclosure.
Installing Solar Panels on Historic Buildings
This guide provides an explanation of solar energy technology, descriptions of the current regulatory context governing the use of solar panels on historic properties at the state and local level, and proposes regulatory solutions that take into consideration the value of both historic and energy resources.
Solar Access
Technical Report: A Comprehensive Review of Solar Access Law in the United States
This guide from Solar America Board of Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) provides a comprehensive review of solar access laws in the US, as well as a model statute and ordinance (page 12), both of which serve to help local governments in drafting their own solar access laws. www.solarabcs.org/about/publications/reports/solar-access/pdfs/Solaraccess-full.pdf
Expedited Permitting
Technical Report: Sharing Success: Emerging Approaches to Efficient Rooftop Solar Permitting
This IREC report examines ways for both local governments and solar energy system installers to mitigate costs associated with the solar permitting process, focusing on three main areas: the pre-application period, application submittal and review, and inspections. The report also contains specific examples of legislation designed to streamline solar permitting. www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-Sharing-Success-w-cover-revised-final052012.pdf
Technical Report: Expedited Permit Process for PV SystemsIn this report, Solar ABCs presents its recommendations to local governments concerning the expedited permit process for small-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems and provides step-by-step guidelines explaining how to effectuate the necessary adjustments. www.solarabcs.org/about/publications/reports/expedited-permit/pdfs/Expermitprocess.pdf
Sample Government Document: Solar PV Installation Standard, Philadelphia Dept. of Licenses and Inspections Permit Services DivisionPhiladelphia’s prescriptive path solution to solar permitting allows for certain solar electric projects to be approved with only an electrical permit (without requiring a building permit). www.phila.gov/green/PDFs/Streamlined%20Solar%20Standards.pdf
Website: Solar Panel Permits Webpage
Breckenridge (CO) has taken advantage of electronic materials, standardized permit requirements, and utilization of standard certifications to offer a short turn-around for solar permits, all of which is clearly communicated on their website. www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.aspx?page=694
Net Metering and Interconnection
Website: Freeing the Grid
Freeing the Grid is an organization that highlights “best practices” for net-metering and interconnection, while grading each state in detail on their respective policies. freeingthegrid.org
Technical Report: Net Metering Model Rules
This IREC report presents the most effective net-metering policies with a focus on the size of systems eligible for net metering, program capacity caps, and treatment of annual excess generation. irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IREC_NM_Model_October_2009-1-22.pdf
Solar Permitting, Inspection and Interconnection ToolkitThis toolkit provides clear, efficient and cost effective ways to simplify and streamline solar permitting, inspection and interconnection (PII) procedures. The toolkit is intended to provide readers with many of the key resources necessary to understand both the basics of PII practices and some of the important nuances that must be considered when promoting or pursuing associated policies or other related activities. http://solaroutreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SPII_Final.pdf
State-Specific Solar Policies
Website: DSIRE Solar
DSIRE Solar offers a wealth of information, data, and analysis concerning each state’s solar energy policies. www.dsireusa.org/solar
EERE Useful links
Website: SunShot Resource Center
http://www4.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/resource_center/
EERE Energy BasicsDOE Energy Savers
http://energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver
Solar Multimedia
www.eeremultimedia.energy.gov/solar/
EERE Videos
www.eere.energy.gov/multimedia/videos.html
For more information, bitis DOE"s Solar Outreach Partnership page and the Solar Energy topic.
