North Central Texas Council of Governments, TX

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is helping communities across the Dallas-Fort Worth region go solar by providing widespread outreach and educational resources. The website GoSolarTexas.org includes solar energy tips for homeowners, best management practices for local governments, and training resources. After earning SolSmart Bronze designation in 2020, NCTCOG leveled up to SolSmart Silver in 2024 by supporting the adoption of automated solar permitting system in member jurisdictions, convening trainings and connecting other local governments to the SolSmart program, and more.

• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV
• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives including an inventory of local incentives or locally-enabled finance
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to a property owners solar access and solar rights, including links to state-level policy
• Posted resources relevant to instant/automatic permitting (e.g., SolarAPP+) and how they can be adopted in your region
• Posted an online solar map for your region.
• Demonstrated regional organization support for local solar strategies through speeches, press releases, opinion articles, etc
• Discussed solar PV goals and/or strategies for increasing solar PV development within an appropriate committee, commission, taskforce, and/or working group.
• Provided an inventory of local incentives provided by member communities for solar PV to LMI households, disadvantaged communities, DBEs, MWBEs, and/or non-profit organizations that provide community services
• Developed a regional grant application process and/or team to apply for or sponsor competitive grants, maximizing the impact of state and federal funding opportunities for your members that alone would be ineligible.
• Hosted a regional workshop focused on the topic of siting solar PV and procuring renewable energy.
• Worked with at least one community in the region to demo an instant/automatic permitting process (e.g., SolarAPP+).
• Worked with at least one community in the region to implement an instant/automatic permitting process (e.g., SolarAPP+)
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV on public facilities and/or publicly controlled land. Compiled summary and next steps in a memo
• Shared solar PV progress towards achieving targets or metrics on the solar landing page
• Collaborated with local inspection departments to develop a solar PV inspection checklist for the region and post on the solar landing page developed as part of PR-2
• 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
• Hosted regional training on best practices for permitting & inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Collected and posted member government energy targets for solar PV (e.g., # of installations, MW capacity, kWhs generated cand/or procured) and progress against stated targets
• Engaged with regional organization members who are eligible for SolSmart designation and get them to submit a Solar Statement