Broadview Earns National Recognition for its Solar Energy Push

(Broadview, IL) – The Village of Broadview is among 10 Chicago-area communities that achieved national recognition last week at a virtual event at Argonne National Laboratory for encouraging the growth of solar energy.

Broadview was awarded a Silver-level designation under SolSmart, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy that helps local governments reduce barriers to solar energy use for homes and businesses.

“On behalf of the entire Village of Broadview, I want to offer our deepest appreciation to SolSmart for recognizing the efforts of Broadview to create the legal framework to promote the adoption of solar energy use for our homes and businesses,” said Mayor Katrina Thompson. “We are proud to have earned the SolSmart Silver level recognition; we are also personally proud of our community.”

SolSmart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus worked in partnership with SolSmart to recruit these communities and help them meet the requirements for designation.

The village worked with both national experts and Broadview stakeholders to streamline our local procedures and help make it faster, easier, and more affordable for homes and businesses to go solar, according to Thompson.

“Successfully adopting and implementing Broadview’s solar energy ordinance has been a community-wide effort,” said Thompson. “The mayor’s office, the executive departments, the Board of Trustees, our business community, and our residents have all stood behind the solar energy ordinance because our community understands the challenges, dangers, and, yes, the opportunities posed by climate change.”

Chicago area communities “stand out” for their sustainable energy commitment.

"We are so proud of these communities for meeting national benchmarks to achieve designation under the SolSmart program," said Theresa Perry, program director at IREC. "Thanks to their efforts and the work of the Caucus, the Chicago area truly stands out among communities nationwide for its commitment to sustainable energy growth."

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