Energizing Local Governments: The Solar America Communities Partnership

Through the Solar America Communities program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), partnering organizations and local governments are working together to increase domestic renewable energy generation, create new green jobs and economic growth and reduce pollution by powering cities with clean, safe, reliable solar energy.  Now DOE has initiated a multi-year Solar America Communities Outreach effort to broaden the benefits across America with objectives of increasing installed capacity, reducing project permitting and inspection time, improving zoning and zoning codes/regulations and increasing access to financing and purchasing options.  Using a town hall format, this panel will discuss progress to date with the Solar America Communities program and engage in a conversation with the audience about challenges and opportunities of increasing the amount of solar PV in communities across the United States.