New technical assistance offer shines

NACo is embarking on a new technical assistance program to help counties boost their communities’ use of solar energy. As partners with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), NACo and The Solar Foundation will help counties achieve a special designation from DOE as a “SPARC“ community. In September 2015, the DOE announced a new initiative— Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities, or SPARC — to develop and award the SPARC designation to communities that have taken key steps to remove barriers to solar deployment and helped build more mature local solar markets.

The team, assembled by The Solar Foundation, will offer technical assistance, facilitate peer networking and provide guidance to support counties and communities seeking to pursue designation through tackling local barriers and expanding access to solar energy technology at the local level. Through this effort, NACo aims to bolster county leaders’ ability to deliver efficient, affordable and innovative energy solutions to the communities they serve, while also expanding local economic development opportunities and lowering costs for solar customers.

Communities that commit to pursuing designation will be eligible for up to 100 hours of free technical  assistance from SPARC solar experts to help them qualify for this program.

Though the program criteria will not be finalized until spring 2016, there is an opportunity for a select few communities to join an elite group of “SPARC Early Adopters” and gain access to exclusive program benefits. The first 30 communities to receive technical assistance from the SPARC team and to be on track to implement a majority of its recommendations for improving planning and zoning, permitting and inspection,and financing options for solar by March 31 will receive recognition as an “Early Adopter”

For more information about the SPARC initiative or to apply for “Early Adopter” status, contact Kathy Nothstine, program director, knothstine@naco.org; or Jack Morgan, program manager, jmorgan@naco.org.