SolSmart program recognizes Richmond for its solar energy efforts

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·2 min read
Rows of solar panels create electricity at the Richmond 2 solar park.
Rows of solar panels create electricity at the Richmond 2 solar park.

RICHMOND, Ind. — The city welcomed solar panels.

Richmond has enabled the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, which supplies Richmond Power & Light, to create seven solar fields — so far. But that's not all the city has been doing. It has worked to make it faster, easier and more affordable for homes and businesses to install solar power.

Now, the city has been recognized with a Silver designation in the SolSmart program, one of a handful of Indiana municipalities and among 450 communities nationwide to receive such a designation, according to a news release.

"Richmond has always been a city of vision," Mayor Dave Snow said in the release. "Once again, we are looking ahead to how we can build an even more attractive and more resilient community for generations to come."

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City/County Management Association lead the SolSmart program, which launched in 2016. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office provides funding. A SolSmart designation indicates the city encourages solar energy growth and signals businesses the city welcomes solar development.

“By making it easier for homes and businesses to go solar, we are helping to create a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for Richmond," said Ian Vanness, the city's director of infrastructure and development, in the release. "By removing barriers and streamlining the process, solar power is now more accessible and affordable for everyone."SolSmart awards points when communities reduce barriers to solar energy growth. The community's points total determines whether it receives a Gold, Silver or Bronze designation. Richmond earned 145 points to surpass the 100 necessary for its Silver ranking, and the city plans to pursue the 200 points necessary for a Gold designation.Richmond earned its designation by updating local processes to reduce the time and money necessary to install solar energy systems, including the evaluation of local permitting and inspection processes plus planning and zoning procedures. The city created an online checklist that details required permit, submittals and steps to install small rooftop arrays, trained permitting and inspection staff on best practices for solar installations, reviewed zoning code to identify potential restrictions to solar power and posted a document stating that solar panels are allowed in all major zoning districts.

The "Solar Power" page of the city’s website, richmondindiana.gov, provides those details.

Moving toward a Gold designation fits with the city's pending Climate Action Plan, which was referred Monday by Richmond Common Council to the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission to receive public input during its July 27 meeting. The Climate Action Plan contains strategies that include connecting residents and businesses with on-site solar opportunities, integrating renewable energy into land use and zoning codes and eliminating barriers to residential solar development. The SolSmart program provides national experts to provide no-cost technical assistance to help communities pursue SolSmart designations.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: SolSmart program recognizes Richmond for its solar energy efforts