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Get DOE's Updated Solar Guidebook for Local Governments
by Don Knapp
Solar panels in Palm Desert, CA
As more local governments set up solar panels to capture the sun's energy, the Department of Energy is capturing something nearly as valuable: their lessons learned.
Today DOE's Solar America Communities program released the second edition of "Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments," a free, comprehensive resource to help local governments scale solar in their communities. The Guide is designed to help any local government understand the range of strategies, successes, policies, and programs trailblazed by DOE's original 25 Solar America Cities. A little more than a year has passed since DOE released the first edition of the Guide. What's different in the second edition?
"Profiles of new innovations and market developments, and additional case studies that share in-depth experience from leading local governments," says Lisa Milligan, ICLEI USA's Director of Sustainable Energy, who is leading up ICLEI's partnership with DOE to deliver technical trainings and guidance to local governments based on the Guide.
Inside the Guide
DOE's Solar America Communities website describes the Guide as follows:
The guide introduces a range of policy and program options that have been successfully field tested in cities and counties around the country. The guide describes each policy or program, followed by more information on:
- Benefits: Identifies benefits from implementing the policy or program.
- Implementation Tips and Options: Outlines various tips and options for designing and implementing the policy or program.
- Examples: Highlights experiences from communities that have successfully implemented the policy or program.
- Additional References and Resources: Lists additional reports, references, and tools that offer more information on the topic, where applicable.
