Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Massachusetts

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council improved access to solar for residents in the Boston area by providing trainings for relevant municipal staff, publishing information about solar on their website, supporting member communities in procuring solar energy, and more!

• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives including an inventory of local incentives or locally-enabled finance (e.g., a revolving loan fund) for solar PV provided by member communities
• Supported a solar informational session and/or solar tour explaining solar PV opportunities and policies. Show that session/tour was made accessible to all member communities including disadvantaged communities
• Demonstrated regional organization support for local solar strategies through speeches, press releases, opinion articles, etc.
• Demonstrated activity in state regulatory and/or legislative proceedings regarding solar PV
• Supported member communities in procuring solar energy or installing solar PV for direct use for local government facilities
• Posted a solar landing page on the regional organization’s website with information that may include the region’s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar, and resources for solar development
• Hosted regional training for planning and zoning staff from communities and counties in the region on best practices in planning and zoning for solar PV. Training must have occurred in the past two years
• Hosted regional training on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Engaged with regional organization members who are eligible for SolSmart designation and get them to submit a Solar Statement