Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio earned SolSmart Bronze by enacting numerous solar initiatives, including providing financing programs for residents, acquiring solar energy for municipal operations, raising awareness about clean energy jobs, and more!

• 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 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
• Distributed solar job training and career opportunities in coordination with local colleges and/or workforce development organizations
• 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
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land
• Local government has procured solar energy for municipal operations or signed contract to procure solar energy for municipal operations
• Installed solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Supported a community-wide group purchase program (e.g., Solarize)
• Provided residents with Community Choice Aggregation/Energy that includes solar PV as a power generation source
• Provided a PACE financing program that includes solar PV as an eligible technology.
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval.
• Posted an online fact sheet that provides an overview of what zoning allows for solar PV under what conditions and in which district
• Included specific solar PV goals, metrics, and strategies in the most current published version of relevant local plans (e.g., energy plan, climate plan, comprehensive plan).
• Shared solar PV progress towards achieving targets or metrics from PZ-20 on the solar landing page
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
• Posted an online document from the Planning/Zoning Department that states accessory use solar PV is allowed by-right in all major zones. (e.g. via a zoning determination letter)