Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin earned SolSmart Silver designation by posting online solar resources for residents, installing solar PV on government property, training permitting, inspection, and zoning staff in solar PV best practices, 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 a property owners 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
• Posted an online solar map for the community
• 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
• Installed solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land
• Demonstrated activity in state regulatory and/or legislative proceedings regarding solar PV
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV
• Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting & inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Posted solar PV inspection requirements online, including the inspection process and what details inspectors will review
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less
• Provided an online process for solar PV inspection scheduling
• 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
• Trained planning and zoning staff on best practices in planning and zoning for solar PV
• 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)
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development