River Forest honored for solar initiatives
The Chicago Tribune
Illinois Takes National Lead in SolSmart Designations!
In 2019, 23 Illinois municipalities and counties, including River Forest, received the coveted SolSmart designation in a ceremony at Argonne National Laboratory. These communities received no-cost technical assistance from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, which served as a SolSmart Advisor and was the chief catalyst in the communities’ drive to seek designation.
- Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers
- Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
River Forest, Illinois earned the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) EV-Ready Gold designation in 2025 for their work to increase access to EV charging infrastructure and remove barriers to EV adoption. Their achievements include updates to permitting and inspection practices, safety training for staff, zoning updates, and more.
MMC’s EV-Ready program is a partner of Charging Smart. View additional MMC designees on the Energy Ready Communities map.
SolSmart is a critical source of technical assistance to help us improve our permitting and public education processes at the local level. This initiative will make solar more easily accessible to homeowners and businesses, and makes our community more attractive to potential new businesses and residents. We appreciate the River Forest Sustainability Commission for introducing the Village to the SolSmart program and working to continually improve our environment.
– Cathy Adduci, River Forest Village President
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