Athens

Athens, Ohio originally earned SolSmart Bronze in 2017, upgrading to SolSmart Gold in 2023 by updating zoning, providing a comprehensive array of public-facing resources for the residents, streamlining permitting and inspection, and more. In 2025, Athens became the first community in Ohio to earn SolSmart Platinum designation, a major achievement in recognition of the community’s work to remove barriers to the deployment of solar PV, grow local solar energy generation, reduce costs, and engage and educate community members in the benefits of solar.

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Taking Action in Rural Athens, Ohio

• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives.
• Posted online resources about consumer protection and solar PV.
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to a property owner’s solar access and solar rights, including links to state-level policy.
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to Homeowner Associations (HOAs) ability to regulate and/or restrict solar PV, including links to state-level policy.
• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV.
• Demonstrated local government support for local solar projects through speeches, press releases, opinion articles, etc.
• Posted a solar landing page on local government’s website with information that may include the community’s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar.
• Established partnerships w/ local community-based orgs or other orgs focused on serving disadvantaged communities w/in the community to define solar equity goals, devlop implementation strategies, & established a plan for tracking & reporting.
• Discussed solar PV goals and/or strategies for increasing solar PV development, including large-scale solar plans, solar access, and/or solar adoption in disadvantaged communities.
• Supported a solar informational session and/or solar tour explaining solar PV opportunities and policies.
• Discussed community goals for solar PV, net metering, community solar, and/or interconnection processes with the local utility and explore areas for future collaboration.
• Coordinated with regional organizations and/or local governments to engage utilities on advancing solar policies such as utility procurement of solar PV, green tariffs, and/or interconnection process improvements.
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Installed solar PV integrated with other technologies such as battery storage or electric vehicle charging on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Installed solar PV on local government-controlled brownfields and/or under-utilized properties.
• Installed solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Provided residents with Community Choice Aggregation/Energy that includes solar PV as a power generation source.
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of the community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Trained inspection staff on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Posted an online statement confirming a three-business day turnaround time for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Demonstrated pathway for instant/automatic approval of residential rooftop solar PV systems (e.g., using SolarAPP+).
• Posted community metrics related to the number of solar PV and solar + storage permits & inspections processed by the community annually, average annual permitting & inspection timelines.
• Adopted a standard solar PV permit application form aligned with best practices.
• Distinguished between solar PV systems qualifying for streamlined and standard permit review.
• Required no more than one permit application form for a small rooftop solar PV system.
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval.
• Received a demonstration of an instant or automated platform (e.g., SolarAPP+) and discussed how it might be implemented in the permitting process.
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of the community’s permitting process for primary use ground-mount solar and include any additional state required permits.
• Presented PZ-1 memo findings to planning commission or relevant body.
• Drafted proposed language for changes to zoning code based on PZ-1 memo and PZ-2 dialogue. Involved planners and/or local zoning experts and/or the public (e.g., through community-based organizations) in the creation of the draft language.
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones.
• Ensured the zoning ordinance permits small ground-mounted solar PV as an accessory use in at least one zoning district.
• 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 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 includes a native perennial vegetation and/or habitat-friendly ground cover requirement or standard for large-scale solar PV.
• Drafted new or updated language and provide a timeline for the inclusion of specific solar PV goals, metrics, and/or strategies into existing and/or future plans.
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development. Compile findings in a memo
• Ensured the zoning ordinance language does not include intentional or unintentional barriers to accessory use rooftop solar PV
• 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.