East Cocalico Township, PA

East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania embraced multiple important initiatives in order to achieve SolSmart Silver designation. That included updates to the city’s zoning code, which now includes clear guidance for small- and large-scale solar systems, as well as decommissioning a solar system at the end of its life cycle; improvements in public information on solar and solar incentives; and more!

• Post online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives.
• Post a solar landing page on local government’s website with information that may include the community’s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar
• Provide a PACE financing program that includes solar PV as an eligible technology.
• Post an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Adopt a standard solar PV permit application form aligned with best practices.
• Require no more than one permit application form for a small rooftop solar PV system.
• Demonstrate that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
• Post an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s permitting process for primary use ground-mount solar and include any additional state required permits.
• Post an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s solar plus (e.g., battery storage, and/or electric vehicle charging) permitting process.
• Review zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development.
• Codify in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones.
• Ensure the zoning ordinance permits small ground-mounted solar PV as an accessory use in at least one zoning district.
• Ensure the zoning ordinance establishes a clear regulatory pathway for large-scale solar PV (e.g. through a special use permit or through inclusion among allowed conditional uses).
• Ensure the zoning ordinance establishes solar energy zones and/or solar overlays for large-scale solar PV.
• Ensure the zoning ordinance requires a decommissioning plan that outlines the terms and conditions for a large-scale solar PV system’s proper removal at the end of its useful life cycle or in the event of cessation of operation.