ATHENS, Ohio – The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) has announced that it is actively recruiting Ohio communities to pursue SolSmart designation, following a period in which the program was disrupted by federal funding uncertainty. Communities interested in becoming solar-ready can now contact SOPEC to begin the designation process.
SolSmart is a national program administered by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office. The program recognizes cities, counties, and regional organizations that take steps to make solar energy faster, easier, and more affordable to access at the local level. Communities can earn designation at four levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – based on actions taken across areas including permitting and inspection, zoning, solar financing, community outreach, and data collection.
SOPEC serves as a SolSmart advisor, providing free technical assistance to both member and non-member communities across Ohio. Such assistance includes guidance on streamlining permit processes, updating solar zoning ordinances, creating public-facing solar resources, and working through the SolSmart scorecard to identify the most impactful actions for each community’s situation.
There is no cost to communities to participate. SOPEC staff are available for one-on-one consultations to help local officials understand whether SolSmart is the right fit and what steps are involved.
Communities interested in learning more or beginning the designation process are encouraged to visit sopec-oh.gov/solsmart to schedule a consultation.
