North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is seeking ways to encourage solar energy development in our region. This webpage represents a collection of solar information and resources for the region. Our Regional Organization’s solar goals can be found in its Solar Statement. For more information about the basics of solar energy, your solar options, and questions to ask solar professionals, read the Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and visit the Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar.
SolSmart is a national community designation program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to recognize communities that take steps to make it easier for businesses and residents to go solar. Communities committed to pursuing SolSmart designation will be eligible for no-cost technical assistance from a team of national solar and local government experts.
Participating cities can earn SolSmart designation—at the bronze, silver, gold, or platinum level—by completing criteria in the SolSmart Program Guide. For additional examples and best practices of how cities across the country are satisfying SolSmart criteria, visit our Resources to Achieve SolSmart Designation webpage.
NCTCOG has been recognized as a SolSmart – Silver Designated organization for implementing best practices to make it easier for residents and businesses to install and access solar energy. SolSmart is a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and designation recognizes North Central Texas Council of Governments as “open for solar business.” Learn more about the program here, and communities interested in participating in SolSmart should contact energy@nctcog.org.
NCTCOG is thrilled that six North Texas communities have earned SolSmart designation. Congratulations to the cities of Celina, Cedar Hill, Kennedale, Corinth, Plano, Denton, Fort Worth, and Lewisville.
Why Participate?
SolSmart provides actionable items for local governments to pursue in the process of becoming more solar friendly.
Reducing soft costs can increase return on investment for solar customers. Complex or poorly-defined local government policies and processes can add $2,500 or more to the cost of going solar.
Eliminating red tape and making approval processes more efficient can save local governments time and money, helping communities better manage constrained budgets and limited taxpayer resources.
Improving local processes and policies for going solar can improve business prospects for solar companies. More than one-third of solar installation companies say they avoid serving communities because of permitting difficulties.
National recognition on the SolSmart website, outreach to the media, and other public announcements.
To learn more about the SolSmart program, designated cities, and resources available for cities interested in pursuing a SolSmart designation, explore the following pages.
