Apply now: Your county can host a solar energy expert

SolSmart offers free technical assistance that can help counties evaluate solar development programs 

You’ve heard the news: Solar energy is more affordable and more accessible than ever before. The solar industry has created over 250,000 jobs for communities across the nation while helping homes and businesses save on energy costs. What you may not know is that county governments have a huge role to play in bringing solar energy development to a community. The decisions made at the county level can go a long way toward encouraging — or discouraging — solar energy development for local homes and businesses.

SolSmart is a program funded by the Department of Energy that provides official recognition to local governments that encourage solar energy growth. It is led by The Solar Foundation, the International City/County Management Association, and a team of partners including NACo. The program offers expert technical assistance at no cost to help communities evaluate their current programs and processes that influence solar development and adopt national best practices. To date, more than 200 communities have achieved SolSmart designation of Gold, Silver, or Bronze, including 37 counties.

This spring, counties can apply for a special opportunity through SolSmart. The program is now accepting applications to host a SolSmart Advisor — an experienced professional who will work in a community for approximately six months. SolSmart Advisors provide intensive technical assistance to help a community reduce obstacles to solar energy development and ultimately achieve SolSmart designation.

Advisors can boost efforts by counties interested in accelerating the advancement of solar energy. Previous SolSmart Advisors have assisted communities in launching Solarize campaigns, modeling solar installations on government buildings, or streamlining solar permitting processes (if applicable). You can learn more about previous advisors and the communities they served through the SolSmart website https://bit.ly/2HNWXZQ or by speaking with SolSmart representatives.

There are two pathways that counties may use to obtain an advisor: 1) a community-based pathway or 2) an organization-based pathway. The appropriate pathway is determined by the lead applicant.

Through the community-based path, local governments would apply and be selected to host advisors through a competitive application process. All counties and municipalities in the United States are eligible to apply, but SolSmart only plans to award up to five advisors. The most competitive applications will include a partnership between two or more communities (a “cohort”), with a larger number of communities being preferable. Here are several potential structures for a cohort:

A group of counties and cities in a metropolitan area can co-host an advisor to spur solar energy growth in the entire region.

A county could host an advisor for itself and the municipalities within its boundaries.

A group of counties with an interest in similar topic areas, such as resilience, storage, or land use, could apply together. There are no geographical restrictions, so counties could partner with peers outside of their region or state.

Counties also have an opportunity to work through third-party organizations to obtain advisor services. Through the organization-based RFP pathway, organizations such as councils of government, regional planning commissions, community organizations, and environmental organizations could apply to serve as an advisor to a group of communities.

To be competitive under this application, organizations would need to demonstrate a record of working with communities, relevant subject-matter expertise, and existing staff capacity. The most competitive applications will include the greatest number of communities, but will be balanced with feasibility. Organizations interested in applying will need to receive written commitments from local government staff, so be prepared for inquiries.

Applications for a SolSmart Advisor through both pathways are due by June 4. Learn more at SolSmart.org.