Introduction

SolSmart Program Overview SolSmart is a U.S. Department of Energy–funded initiative, led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), that supports municipalities, counties, and regional organizations in advancing solar energy adoption. The program provides no-cost, expert technical assistance to help local governments implement nationally recognized best practices in solar deployment. Communities that meet specific performance criteria are awarded designations at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum level, signaling their commitment to reducing barriers to solar energy, streamlining permitting and zoning processes, and fostering market growth.

From an environmental standpoint, SolSmart accelerates the transition to clean, renewable power by making solar installations faster, easier, and more affordable. By targeting “soft costs” — the non-hardware expenses like permitting, financing, and installation labor that account for roughly two-thirds of solar system costs — SolSmart enables more households, businesses, and public entities to go solar. This shift directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supports climate action goals, and increases local resilience by diversifying the energy mix.

Cities can encourage SolSmart participation by publicly committing to sustainability targets, allocating staff to coordinate with SolSmart’s technical assistance team, and adopting streamlined permitting, zoning, and inspection processes. Partnering with neighboring jurisdictions or regional organizations can further leverage resources and accelerate progress toward higher designation levels. Ultimately, SolSmart provides both a roadmap and a badge of achievement for communities seeking to lead in clean energy deployment and environmental stewardship.

Map Of Participating Cities in Contra Costa

SolSmart’s scoring process is based on a flexible, points-based system organized into five categories: Permitting and Inspection, Planning and Zoning, Government Operations, Community Engagement, and Market Development. Communities earn points by completing nationally recognized best practices, such as streamlining solar permitting, updating zoning codes, training staff, or promoting equitable access. Some actions are prerequisites, while others are elective, allowing jurisdictions to tailor their approach. The total points earned determine the community’s designation level—Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum—with higher levels recognizing greater achievements in removing barriers and fostering local solar growth.

Data Description and Citation

The data used in this analysis includes the following: https://solsmart.org/

If you have any questions or comments about this report or the data sources used, please feel free to reach out to the author at

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