Winnetka To Boost Solar Use In SolSmart Program

WINNETKA-GLENCOE, IL - From The Village of Winnetka: The Village of Winnetka has taken a new and important step to improve quality of life for residents, spur business development and job creation, and protect the environment, by enrolling in SolSmart, national program to make it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar.

Municipalities participating in SolSmart use the program’s resources to streamline development of solar power installations on homes and businesses, cutting electricity costs for users and reducing pollution for all. Winnetka is one of 22 Chicago-area municipalities and counties that will receive expert technical assistance on solar energy development.

Interest in new solar installations is skyrocketing in Illinois, and Winnetka intends to act now and be on the forefront of this rapidly-expanding green technology.

“SolSmart is a critical source of technical assistance to help us improve our permitting processes at the local level,” says Village President Chris Rintz. “This makes solar power more easily accessible to homeowners and businesses, and makes our community more attractive to potential new businesses and residents.”

Among many resources provided, SolSmart offers communities a template for a standard
installation permit that is aligned with national standards, codes, and best practices. This eases
the administrative burden for developers of small-scale residential solar systems and increases
Village staff’s efficiency in permitting.

Municipalities also receive expert guidance on adapting zoning codes to remove barriers to solar development, engaging and educating local residents and businesses on solar energy, and other activities that can expedite local solar development.

This is the second year that the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus has been selected as a SolSmart Advisor to Chicago-area communities. Previously, the Caucus’ expert guidance helped another round of 15 communities earn designation through SolSmart.

Participating local governments will receive extensive assistance from the Caucus on best practices to speed up local solar development and will also work with other industry partners to train staff to evaluate and inspect solar installations.

Winnetka is a signatory to the Greenest Region Compact, created by the Caucus and its
membership to guide and unify regional sustainability efforts. In addition to renewable energy,
the Compact also sets high-level goals for municipal leaders in the areas of climate, economic development, energy efficiency, land use, leadership, mobility, greener municipal operations, sustainable communities, waste and water.

Image via Shutterstock