Washington, IL

Washington, Illinois earned SolSmart Bronze by updating updating zoning, procuring solar power for municipal operations, adopting automatic solar permitting, and more!

• Local government has procured solar energy for municipal operations or signed contract to procure solar energy for municipal operations through an offsite physical PPA, virtual PPA, green tariff, or similar structure
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV
• Demonstrated that current model code (IRC, IBC, and NEC ) cycle is implemented in the community for solar and solar plus storage (codes must be the most recent editions (or penultimate edition))
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less
• Received a demonstration of an instant or automated platform (e.g., SolarAPP+) and discuss how it might be implemented in the permitting process
• Required no more than one permit application form for a small rooftop solar PV system
• Demonstrated pathway for instant/automatic approval of residential rooftop solar PV systems (e.g., using SolarAPP+)
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval
• Provided clear guidance for the installation of solar PV in areas such as historic properties, flood zones or special overlay districts
• Ensured 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)
• Ensured the zoning ordinance exempts small ground-mounted solar PV from certain restrictions on accessory uses (e.g. setbacks, coverage or impervious surface calculations, or other restrictions)
• Ensured the zoning ordinance permits small ground-mounted solar PV as an accessory use in at least one zoning district
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones
• Ensured 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
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development