The US Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced two awardees for managing an expansion of the SolSmart program over five years to “increase solar deployment and expand access to clean energy.” The $10 million dollar award is shared by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City/County Management Association.
The announcement also marked the successful addition of more than 60 communities to the SolSmart program in response to a challenge set by US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
GPI works with communities to become SolSmart-designated communities, reducing barriers to developing solar projects that meet local goals and priorities.
The following statement is from Brian Ross, vice president, Renewable Energy, Great Plains Institute:
GPI applauds the US DOE’s announcement to expand its SolSmart program to help achieve the administration’s goal of “an equitable, clean energy grid by 2035.”
We’re proud to have assisted 11 communities that contributed to achieving Secretary Granholm’s challenge to add 60 SolSmart communities within six months. As Secretary Granholm said in the announcement, “SolSmart has helped hundreds of local governments make it easier and more affordable to go solar.”
DOE’s SolSmart expansion will increase access to clean, affordable energy in the US, especially in underserved communities. We look forward to continuing our work to help more communities become “solar ready” and expand access to clean energy that benefits people, our economy, and our environment.
