La Crescent, MN

La Crescent, Minnesota has demonstrated a continuing commitment to solar excellence by earning SolSmart designations not one but three times: the community originally earned Bronze in 2019, leveled up to Gold in 2021, and most recently earned SolSmart Platinum in 2024. La Crescent has installed solar on government-owned property, worked to significantly streamline permitting and inspection timelines, provided residents with knowledge and access to financial resource to help them install solar, and more.

• Established partnerships with local community-based organizations or other organizations focused on serving disadvantaged communities within the municipality to define the community’s solar equity goals, develop implementation strategies, & to establish a plan for tracking & reporting
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to Homeowner Associations (HOAs) ability to regulate and/or restrict solar PV, including links to state-level policy
• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives.
• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV
• Posted an online solar map for the community
• Posted online resources about consumer protection and solar PV
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to a property owners solar access and solar rights, including links to state-level policy
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land
• Trained local government staff on regulatory and (where applicable) wholesale market barriers to solar deployment and potential engagement pathways to address those barriers
• Installed solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Demonstrated activity in state regulatory and/or legislative proceedings regarding solar PV
• Provided a PACE financing program that includes solar PV as an eligible technology
• Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems
• Posted community metrics related to the number of solar PV and solar + storage permits & inspections processed by the community annually, average annual permitting & inspection timelines
• Received a demonstration of an instant or automated platform (e.g., SolarAPP+) and discuss how it might be implemented in the permitting process
• 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
• Demonstrated pathway for instant/automatic approval of residential rooftop solar PV systems
• Adopted a standard solar PV permit application form aligned with best practices.
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less
• Ensured the zoning ordinance language does not include intentional or unintentional barriers to accessory use rooftop solar
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones

La Crescent, Minnesota was one of the first Charging Smart designees in the U.S. This municipality undertook measures to improve planning and zoning practices, permitting and inspections, and other efforts to make it easier and more affordable to install EV charging infrastructure.

• Identified co-benefits (public health, noise reduction, pollution reduction)
• Included EVs in transportation plan or climate/sustainability plan
• Created a community-wide EV vision
• Adopted a preference-policy for EVs in the municipal fleet
• Developed goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based surrounding EV actions
• Permitted Level 2 chargers as an accessory use to parking lots in all zoning districts
• Adopted a technology neutral EV-ready ordinance in the zoning code or building code for new construction
• Required EV capable or EV ready for 100% of single-family units
• Allowed all EVSE parking stalls to count towards minimum parking requirements
• Reduced minimum parking requirements by counting EVSE stalls as more than one space
• Don’t count parking spaces lost for EVSE equipment or ADA compliance against minimum parking requirements
• Established accessibility guidelines for EV enabled parking stalls
• Trained permitting and inspection staff on best practices for permitting and inspecting EVSE
• Developed EVSE permitting checklists
• Met with utilities to discuss collaboration opportunities
• Hosted or supported EV readiness workshops with utility
• Collaborated with utility to co-promote utility EV programs, rates, and incentives, including EV integrated renewable energy
• Co-developed incentives for installing residential-managed charging
• Co-created renewable energy EV programs or incentives for residents
• Hosted Ride and Drives in the community
• Created educational pamphlets or devote space in newsletters to educate residents about EVs
• Hosted informational booths at city and community gatherings
• Created a specific page on the city website that includes information about EVs
• Promoted the EV and EV + renewable energy programs the city and utilities offer to residents
• Listed adopted EV/EVSE ordinances and proposed EV/EVSE ordinances
• Linked to the regulatory and permitting processes checklists
• Completed a fleet analysis
• Adopted EV conversion goals for public fleets with timelines
• Purchased EVs for fleet use to meet adopted goals
• Installed EVSE in public parking (downtowns, retail centers)
• Installed EVSE for public use at community centers, city hall, or other public facilities
• Tracked charging metrics (i.e., usage, reduced GHG emissions, earnings, savings, etc.)
• Worked with transit operator to complete assessment of EV transit and/or para-transit conversion opportunities
• Worked with transit operator to adopt conversion goals for EV transit and/or para-transit with timelines
• Worked with school district to complete assessment of EV school bus conversion opportunities