SolSmart Designation
SolSmart is a national designation program that provides a framework for municipalities, counties, and regions to reduce soft costs and take measurable action to become more supportive of solar photovoltaic (PV) in their communities. Local governments that achieve the appropriate actions under SolSmart become designated as "solar friendly". R1 is currently in the progress of attaining this designation in order to fulfill agency and regional goals.
Based on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, R1 staff have identified three goals for providing resources and technical assistance in regards to solar development in the Northern Illinois region:
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Establish standards and create a regional plan for public and private incorporation of renewable energies and related energy supply.
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Improve and seek infrastructure projects which accommodate new technology and increase efficiencies of existing systems.
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Prioritize green economic development.
R1’s Solar Statement as part of our application for Regional Designation under SolSmart
R1 is available and committed to assisting Northern Illinois localities in receiving a designation. Contact our Government Affairs Associate, Paige Witherow, to learn more:
pwitherow@r1planning.org
(815)-319-4190
Gold Certified City of Freeport and Rockford have additional resources available on their city’s websites. Additional zoning and development information can be located through your municipalities’ website and Planning and Zoning offices.
Resources
Below is a collection of various resources that have been collected and/or produced by R1 and SolSmart Partners. These documents fulfill specific SolSmart requirements and have been designed to ease soft-costs for consumers and local governments.
Planning and Zoning Guidance for Local Governments
- SolSmart Zoning Review Guide
- Solar Power in Your Community Guidebook
- Model Zoning for the Regulation of Solar Energy Systems - Department of Energy Resources, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
- Applicant’s Guide for a Solar Energy System - San Diego County
- Promoting Solar Energy Use Through Local Development Regulations - Training from the American Planning Association
- Promoting Solar Energy Use Through Local Plans - Training from the American Planning Association
- Implementing Solar PV Projects on Historic Buildings and in Historic Districts - National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Installing Solar Panels on Historic Buildings - North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
Permitting
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Sample Checklists
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Example of Region 1 municipalities’ checklists
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Sample Solar Permit Application
Illinois Property Owner Solar Rights and Procedure
- The State of Illinois’ Homeowners’ Energy Policy Statement Act:
- (765 ILCS 165/5) “The legislative intent in enacting this Act is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the development and use of solar energy systems in order to conserve and protect the value of land, buildings, and resources by preventing the adoption of measures which will have the ultimate effect, however unintended, of preventing the use of solar energy systems on any home that is subject to a homeowners association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owner’s association.”
- Department of Energy – Homeowners Guide to going Solar:
- Learn more about the benefits of solar and how to begin the process of installing solar for your home.
- Illinois Solar Education Association Homeowner Resources:
- Learn how solar works in Illinois and how you can use solar to power your home, how to navigate the installation process, how to find solar installers, how energy credits and pricing works, and about the Illinois Shines State Incentive Program.