Go SOLAR Rooftop Solar Challenge

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

Go SOLAR Broward Rooftop Solar Challenge program makes it easier, faster and cheaper for residents and businesses to use solar energy. The traditional solar system permitting process varies across Broward County’s 31 municipalities and can be a barrier to those interested in retrofitting their home or business. Broward County and 14 participating partner municipalities formed a Go SOLAR Team, received a rooftop solar challenge grant from the Department of Energy, and addressed these barriers to solar energy through the following four areas: Permitting: Broward County and partner cities developed and offered a streamlined, online rooftop solar application system with standardized fees and uniform interconnection to utility systems. Financing: Broward County researched and developed financing options best practices, and made them available to residents and business owners. Planning and Zoning: Broward County and participating partner cities identified restrictive zoning ordinances, developed a model zoning ordinance to reduce those restrictions, and approved the model zoning ordinance revisions to improve consistency of zoning requirements among all participating partners. Outreach and Education: Broward County and participating partner cities implemented a marketing campaign to educate residents about the benefits of solar energy, the online permitting system, solar rights, net metering and interconnection, and financing options.