Deerfield, IL

Deerfield, Illinois adopted a comprehensive set of solar best practices to earn SolSmart Gold designation. That includes work to train city staff, update zoning, provide the public with key information on solar consumer protection and incentives, and more. Of particular note is their work on community solar, connecting all residents with the benefits of solar energy.

• Demonstrated local government support for local solar projects through speeches, press releases, opinion articles, etc.
• Supported a solar informational session and/or solar tour explaining solar PV opportunities and policies.
• Discussed solar PV goals and/or strategies for increasing solar PV development, including large-scale solar plans, solar access, and/or solar adoption in disadvantaged communities.
• Posted a solar landing page on the local government’s website with information that may include the community’s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar.
• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives.
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Coordinated with regional organizations and/or local governments to engage utilities on advancing solar policies such as utility procurement of solar PV, green tariffs, and/or interconnection process improvements.
• Trained local government staff on regulatory and (where applicable) wholesale market barriers to solar deployment and potential engagement pathways to address these barriers.
• Provided residents with Community Choice Aggregation/Energy that includes solar PV as a power generation source.
• Supported a community solar program.
• Supported a community-wide group purchase program (e.g., Solarize).
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval.
• Requires no more than one permit application form for a small rooftop solar PV system.
• Trained inspection staff on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of the community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Post an online statement confirming a three-business day turnaround time for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Offered inspection appointment times in lieu of appointment windows for solar PV.
• Posted solar PV inspection requirements online, including the inspection process and what details inspectors will review.
• Demonstrated that commercial permit fees for solar PV are based on cost-recovery and capped at a reasonable level so fees do not become a net revenue source
• Required no more than one inspection for small rooftop solar PV.
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones.
• Ensured the zoning ordinance language does not include intentional or unintentional barriers to accessory use rooftop solar PV
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development.
• Included specific solar PV goals, metrics, and strategies in the most current published version of relevant local plans (e.g., energy plan, climate plan, comprehensive plan).