Home to the state capital and over half a million residents, Dane County, Wiconsin has become a leader in sustainability by bringing together local governments, private businesses, and community organizations. By integrating solar initiatives across both urban and rural landscapes, Dane County is not just embracing clean energy—it’s setting a new standard for what’s possible when collaboration fuels innovation.

In recognition of its exemplary efforts in advancing solar energy adoption and streamlining solar processes, Dane County was the first county government in the U.S. to earn the prestigious SolSmart Platinum designation. As a result of measures including solar installations on county facilities and innovative utility-county partnerships, Dane County has offset 100% of its internal electricity use with renewables, two years ahead of schedule. But this achievement was only the beginning: In order to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the county is working with other private and public stakeholders to further reduce emissions and make sure that everyone can benefit from solar power.

Solar Expansions That Power Progress

Solar installations on county properties and facilities have been a key part of offsetting electricity use with renewables. A notable example is the solar canopy shelters at William G. Lunney Lake Farm Park, which provide shade for campers and park visitors along a major bike path; the park and campground get about 90% of their electricity from the solar installations on the shelters and other facilities. Additionally, solar installations currently provide electricity to some buildings at the Dane County Henry Vilas Zoo. The county is exploring the feasibility of a solar canopy system at the Zoo, which will help educate zoo visitors on solar opportunities. These initiatives not only support Dane County’s emissions reduction goals but also stand as visible demonstrations of its commitment to clean energy and sustainability. 

The Backbone of Initiative: Collaboration

While the County government has made strides in reducing emissions, most of the area’s energy usage comes from other entities: cities, residents, and businesses. That’s why the county is embracing a collaborative approach to further spur the growth of solar energy, emphasizing public engagement and coordination with other local governments. 

The county’s solar zoning template offers a simple and effective example of these collaborative efforts. Working with SolSmart, Dane County created a model zoning ordinance for solar energy and then disseminated that model to local municipalities. This zoning ordinance allowed for clarity and consistency across the county.

Beyond zoning, Dane County has supported other local governments in their work to earn SolSmart designation. That includes Sun Prairie, the second city in the nation to receive Platinum. In addition, Dane County has supported McFarland and Mt. Horeb in earning Gold and Bronze designations, respectively. And they continue to work with other municipalities still pursuing a SolSmart designation.

These efforts have had a ripple effect in the county. “One of the things we’ve seen is that some of the smaller local governments who have not pursued SolSmart have started to make changes to their own planning and zoning rules that make solar easier,” said Kathy Kuntz, the Director of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change.

Dane County partnered with the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC), itself a SolSmart Bronze designee, to align municipalities’ priorities with the county’s sustainability goals. Dane County was able to leverage CARPC’s existing relationships with municipalities to encourage participation and provide a regional framework. The partnership with CARPC helped engage multiple local governments simultaneously and created a supportive network for educating local government staff about solar energy initiatives. 

Dane County is also involved in policy making at the state level. In collaboration with other local governments, Dane County founded the Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition, which speaks to the needs of local governments at the state level. The Coalition has supported net metering policies that benefit residents and continues to provide a local government perspective in state legislative actions relating to climate and energy policy.

Solar for Everyone

In addition to fellow local governments, housing developers are another important partner in Dane County’s work to expand solar energy. Like many metropolitan areas in the U.S., Dane County faces a housing shortage, and is working with developers to increase housing stock, especially multifamily units. 

“Both the City of Madison and Dane County have affordable housing funds,” said Kuntz. “About five or six years ago, we made a decision to say, ‘If you put solar on your affordable housing project, we will give you bonus points in the selection process and we will co-fund that solar.’” Thanks to that effort, some developers soon realized that buildings with solar panels were more popular with prospective tenants and saved on energy costs, and thus developers leaned into solar energy. To date, nine affordable housing developments have included solar PV as a result of these incentives. 

The county also actively involves NGOs, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, food pantries, and other organizations in its solar initiatives, creating a network of shared benefits and support. “We’ve been that support for those small businesses and nonprofits to understand and access clean energy,” says Kuntz. County staff connect these NGOs with solar installation planning and financing resources, including incentives included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

For example, when Centro Hispano, a local nonprofit serving the Latino community, wanted to add solar PV to its new headquarters, Dane County provided technical assistance (TA) to guide the nonprofit through the process of building a solar-friendly structure and installing PV.  Through this collaboration, Centro Hispano was able to optimize its facility for renewable energy and reduce operating costs. This personalized approach exemplifies the county’s dedication to making solar energy a shared community success, enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

Dane County is also active in making sure that households are aware of their rights relative to solar energy. In Wisconsin, it is unlawful for municipalities or other entities (like homeowners associations) to restrict access to solar energy. The County maintains a set of online resources that explain Wisconsin’s laws and empower households to overcome any unlawful local restrictions. 

Uplifting the Successes of Community Members

Solar progress involves both private citizens and local government staff, and Dane County makes sure that these local partners receive public recognition, often in the form of blogs, social media, and emails. These updates serve to amplify efforts taking place across the county, creating examples for others to follow.

“One of our largest hospital networks is in the process of finishing a new medical center, and in the adjacent parking lot they have installed a solar canopy…We’ve published a blog and have been making a ton of fuss about that, because these solar canopies in parking lots seem like a no-brainer,” said Kuntz, noting that such accolades can help spur additional solar installations.

Similarly, a county “Climate Champions” award gives public recognition to local governments that enact solar and other sustainability initiatives. By promoting the positive actions of one local government, Dane County celebrates that achievement and spurs other communities to take similar action.

“Because we don’t have authority to create mandates, we can do two things. We can make it easier for people to take action, and SolSmart helps us with that, because [the program] makes it easier for residents and businesses to install solar,” said Kuntz. “And we can celebrate the leadership that’s out there so that other people want to lead, too.” 

The Role of SolSmart

Throughout many of these projects, the SolSmart team has played a supporting role, offering tools, resources, and personalized TA to help Dane County realize its solar energy goals. That included helping create the model zoning ordinance, solar landing page, and other measures.

Kuntz elaborates on the process, “I have never participated in a program that did so much heavy lifting to make it easier for us to participate…I’ve never experienced anything that was so easy upfront. We were totally dazzled.” 

Through SolSmart, Dane County has been able to enhance its solar initiatives and make significant strides in sustainability and community engagement. SolSmart served as a guidebook, structuring and shaping Dane County’s approach to solar energy adoption. This partnership underscores the county’s commitment to a solar-powered future and demonstrates the profound impact of collaborative efforts guided by expert evaluation and feedback.

Any city, county, or regional organization across the U.S. can achieve SolSmart designation. To get started, contact us here, and begin your own path toward a more resilient energy future.