Bucks County, PA

Bucks County, Pennsylvania embraced a county-wide approach to enact solar best practices, with actions ranging from installing solar PV on county facilities to providing guidance to local governments within the county on enacting updates to solar planning, zoning, and inspection. With these efforts, Bucks County earned SolSmart Bronze designation.

• Convened an active energy task force or solar working group that meets at least three times per year
• Created a solar landing page on local government’s website with information on the community’s solar goals and local resources for solar development
• Publicly encouraged community solar projects or solar PV projects on community facilities
• Provided information to consumers about different solar PV financing options, including commercial options such as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV installations on public facilities
• Installed solar PV and/or thermal capacity on local facilities
• Provided PACE financing to the community
• Provided guidance on planning, zoning and development best practices to communities in the county through webinars, in-person meetings, one-on-one calls or trainings
• Collaborated with local inspection departments to develop an inspection checklist for the region and share results publicly
• Hosted regional training or discussion on best practices in permitting for communities in the count
• Incorporated solar into county-wide comprehensive plans and/or economic development plans, including quantifiable targets or metrics
• Developed local process to enable solar rights through a solar access ordinance