Preparing Your Community for Solar Development: the SolSmart Program and Technical Assistance

When:

March 16 at 12:00 PM

Virtual Event

Description:
Local governments have tremendous influence over the prospects for, and shape of, solar energy growth. The solar industry is a leading source of American job creation and attracting solar investment in your community is a great way to promote economic development and new jobs. Solar resources are inherently local and can benefit the community directly as energy sources.  However, solar development – from the rooftop to the solar farm – presents both opportunity and risk to the community. Many communities are poorly equipped to navigate the issues of local solar development. The national SolSmart program (funded by the U.S. Department of Energy) offers free technical assistance to communities for navigating risks and capturing opportunities as the solar industry ramps up. This workshop will describe the burgeoning market for solar energy and solar development, the components of ensuring your community is “solar-ready” to both capture benefits and minimize risks, and the solar-ready certification process and technical assistance opportunities.  Water quality and watershed issues will be addressed.