Since early 2019 the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has been advising ten Wisconsin communities pursuing SolSmart designation. As each community’s SolSmart Advisor, we’ve worked with city representatives to take actions that reduce solar soft costs and promote use of solar locally.

“As a partner, it was our goal to assist each participating community in identifying opportunities to streamline their permitting and inspections processes, removing zoning barriers, and educating community members about the local economic benefits of solar PV, ” said Eric Rehm, MREA’s SolSmart Advisor.

Our 2019 efforts are coming to fruition as more of our partnering cities have begun to receive their SolSmart designations!
 
Currently Designated: 
Gold: City of Stevens Point
Silver: City of La Crosse, City of Wauwatosa, Village of Egg Harbor, Village of Plover
Bronze: La Crosse County, City of Sheboygan

Under Review:
Silver: Village of Amherst
Bronze: Portage County
Bronze: City of Racine

CONGRATULATIONS!

SolSmart is a designation program developed by The Solar Foundation (TSF) to assist and recognize communities that act to cut red tape and improve local solar market conditions by making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar in their jurisdictions. To date, more than 200 communities across America have become SolSmart designated.

Our 2019 success builds off of MREA’s previous SolSmart Advisor work that lead six Wisconsin communities (City of Ashland, Bayfield, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Rapids, and Ashland and Bayfield Counties) to earn their SolSmart designation in 2017.

The MREA looks forward to working with more communities and others across Wisconsin make going solar simple and easy to do in their communities. For more information about MREA’s SolSmart Advising, contact ericr@midwestrenew.org.