SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership

APA is working with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), and alongside ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability on the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Through this effort, APA and its partners will provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to local and regional governments to help them implement solar energy in their communities.

The SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership builds on DOE's Solar America Cities Program. In 2007 and 2008, DOE designated 25 major U.S. cities as Solar America Cities and provided these cities with financial and technical assistance to help develop comprehensive approaches to increase solar energy use. In 2009, 16 of the Solar America Cities received additional funding for special projects that address specific barriers to solar energy use in urban environments through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The federal-local partnerships formed through this program have enabled DOE to identify barriers to solar energy use in diverse locations and at various stages of market development, and to collaboratively develop solutions to address those barriers.

A key part of the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership program is sharing best practices and lessons learned in order to overcome barriers to solar energy. The outreach partnership will utilize training workshops, web-based resources, and peer-to-peer sharing opportunities. DOE's compilation of best practices titled "Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments" will serve as a foundation for outreach efforts.

PAS QuickNotes on Planning for Solar Energy

Public officials and engaged citizens have opportunities throughout the planning process to help support and advance solar energy initiatives in their communities. This PAS QuickNotes (QN) discusses how to support solar goals through five strategic points of intervention.

QN provides planning fundamentals for public officials and engaged citizens. Planning Advisory Service subscribers have online access to current and archived editions.

This QN is made available as part of APA's participation in the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership.

Download the free QuickNotes: Planning for Solar Energy (pdf)

Workshops & Webinars

Webinar: Balancing Solar and Other Potential Competing Interests in Communities

Communities have a range of goals and priorities. Sometimes, these goals can be in conflict with one another. Decisions in support of one goal may be to the detriment of another goal, and planners can help communities balance these competing interests and understand any tradeoffs.

On September 18, 2012, the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership held a webinar on the potential competing interests between solar and historic resources as well as solar and tree preservation. The presenters highlighted relevant legislation, case law, and local development regulations as well as provide steps communities can take to help ensure these resources can co-exist in the future.

Speakers:
Kim Kooles, Policy Analyst, North Carolina Solar Center
Michael Allen, Attorney, Energy Law Wisconsin
Erin Musiol, Senior Program Development & Research Associate, American Planning Association (moderator)

Access the audio and presentations at http://learning.icma.org/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=14294.

Regional Workshops

In September and early October, the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership (SolarOPs) held 12 training workshops in cities throughout the Southeast and Midwest. The workshops were designed to provide actionable information on overcoming local-level barriers to solar, addressing soft costs, and implementing a successful local solar program in areas including: (1) revising zoning codes and ordinances to allow for solar; (2) streamlining permitting processes to facilitate solar installations; (3) financing solar projects; and (4) installing solar on municipal and other community facilities.

Over the course of the tours, SolarOPs speakers heard from local governments across the Southeast and Midwest about successful solar programs, as well as how to address the challenges they face. The Solar Trainers were able to provide a wide range of resources for attendees and helped identify possible next steps to solar adoption.

The presentations from these workshops are now available online.

Southeast

• September 17 — Richmond, Virginia
• September 18 — Raleigh, North Carolina
• September 19 — Columbia, South Carolina
• September 20 — Atlanta, Georgia
• September 21 — Charlotte, North Carolina

Midwest

• September 7 — Kansas City, Missouri
• September 26 — Cincinnati, Ohio
• September 27 — Dayton, Ohio
• September 28 — Indianapolis, Indiana
• October 1 — St. Louis, Missouri
• October 2 — Dubuque, Iowa (Growing Sustainable Communities Conference)

Solar Energy Resources List

APA has compiled a list of resources on aspects of solar energy implementation. Find resources on planning and zoning for solar energy, solar in the comprehensive plan, community solar and group purchasing programs, grid connection and net metering, local solar building permit guides, historic preservation, model solar ordinances, solar access and siting ordinances, solar-ready homes, regulating small-scale solar energy systems, regulating large-scale solar energy systems, solar energy online resources, and solar mapping examples.

View the Solar Energy Resources List