SOL Smart

Sol Smart Designation Level Gold with SOL Smart logo

SolSmart is a national designation and technical assistance program for local governments funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. The program promotes the use of best practices by local governments to streamline solar processes and increase affordability and accessibility for residents and businesses. All communities can access no-cost technical assistance, even outside of this Challenge. To date, SolSmart has over 200 designees who have achieved SolSmart designation for fostering the growth of local solar markets in their cities and counties.

In 2017 and 2018 the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) announced that one of its goals for the county organization is to “Work Toward Becoming Carbon Neutral”.  In harmony with that goal, San Miguel County applied to be recognized as a SolSmart local government. In 2020 SolSmart designated San Miguel County as SolSmart Gold under the following criteria and is helping San Miguel County become even more solar-friendly for its citizens and property owners to also work toward this goal.  

  1. SolSmart Criteria

  • Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers
  • Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
  • Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings)
  • Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV
  • Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION


  1. SolSmart Criteria
  • Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers
  • Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
  • Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings)
  • Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV
  • Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems