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Capital Improvement Plan
Plan Implementation Tools, September 2008by: Rebecca RobertsThis fact sheet provides an overview of the capital improvement program (CIP) for planners and public officials. -
Prioritizing Capital Improvement Planning
Government Finance Review, August 2015by: Gary DonaldsonThis article explains how cities and counties can identify, prioritize, and schedule capital projects. -
Capital Improvement Plans 101
Finance Officer’s Desk, May 10, 2016by: Charlie FrancisThis blog post explains the benefits and common features of the capital improvements plan. -
Managing the Capital Planning Cycle
Government Finance Review, June 2004by: NICOLE WESTERMANThis article discusses four phases of the capital planning cycle. -
Balancing One Year's Government Budget Is Just the Start to Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability: Part 1
MSU Extension News, February 20, 2014by: Kurt Schindler, AICPThis blog post introduces the capital improvement program (CIP) as a long-range planning tool. -
Beverly Hills, CA, Solar Photovoltaic Installation Guideline
Adopted September 2010This guide provides safety requirements for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. -
Boulder County, CO, Environmental Sustainability Plan
Updated August 2018This functional plan supports expanding solar use on all county buildings and describes the county's existing solar energy installations. -
Castle Shannon, PA, Zoning Ordinance
2013The borough’s zoning code includes a mapped transit-oriented development (TOD) district for light rail station areas. -
San Bernardino, CA, Municipal Code
2018The city’s development code includes a mapped transit-oriented development (TOD) overly district for 10 bus rapid transit station areas. -
Cape May County, NJ, Energy Plan
Adopted October 2008by: Cape May County Planning BoardThis functional plan sets a goal of actively pursuing and developing solar PV along with other renewable energy sources. -
Cedar Hills, TX, 2011-2016 Sustainability Action Plan
Adopted 2011by: City Of Cedar Hills, TXThis functional plan includes several objectives that support the use of renewable energy. -
Carson, CA, General Plan
Updated 2004by:This comprehensive plan includes several policies and implementation measures that support solar energy use. -
Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems
July 2012by: Bill BrooksThis report introduces a model permit process for making residential (or small-scale) solar development less complex and more streamlined. -
Going Farther Together: The Governmental Solar Garden Subscriber Collaborative
February 2017by: Trevor Drake, Kathryn PhillipsThis report details a project undertaken by local municipalities and organizations in Minnesota to implement community solar projects through collaborative procurement. -
Implementing Solar Technologies at Airports
July 2014by: A. Kandt, R. RomeroThis report covers the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) policies toward solar procurement at airports and the potential for greater solar energy use on these sites. -
Implementing Solar PV Projects on Historic Buildings and in Historic Districts
September 2011by: A. Kandt, E. Hotchkiss, J. BuddenborgThis report presents approaches to meeting renewable energy needs and preserving heritage through solar development on historic buildings. -
Overview of Opportunities for Co-Location of Solar Energy Technologies and Vegetation
December 2013by: Jordan Macknick, Brenda Beatty, Graham HillThis report explores the siting of solar systems with natural vegetation to reduce environmental impacts and environmental mitigation costs. -
Public Rooftop Revolution
June 2015by: John Farrell, Matt GrimleyThis report discusses how solar development on municipal buildings can positively impact energy savings, local job growth, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. -
Shining Cities 2019: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy
April 2019by: Abigail Bradford, Trevor Stankiewicz, Bret FanshawThis report presents data on installed solar capacity in major U.S. cities. -
Solar Development on Contaminated and Disturbed Lands
December 2013by: Jordan Macknick, Courtney Lee, Gail MoseyThis report analyzes several potential sites for solar development on contaminated and disturbed lands. -
Solar Photovoltaic Financing: Deployment on Public Property by State and Local Governments
May 2008by: Karlynn Cory, Jason Coughlin, Charles CoggeshallThis report reviews the myriad financial incentives, models, and mechanisms that state and local governments can use to install solar energy systems on public buildings and lands. -
Solar and Grid Stability: A Primer for Local Governments
October 2012This briefing paper discusses the technical aspects of integrating distributed solar energy into the grid. -
Municipal Energy Financing: Lessons Learned
May 2010by: John FarrellThis briefing paper discusses property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs as an option for municipalities to finance renewable energy projects. -
Lessons Learned: Community Solar for Municipal Utilities
December 2016This briefing paper reviews approaches and strategies for municipal utilities interested in developing community solar projects. -
On-Site Renewable Energy and Public Finance: How and Why Municipal Bond Financing is the Key to Propagating Access to On-Site Renewable Energy Efficiency
Santa Clara High Tech Law Journal, 26(4): 559–590, 2010by: Jason Wiener, Christian AlexanderThis article argues that property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs are the best financial option to reduce the inequitable distribution of renewable energy. -
Toward a Low-Carbon Future: Municipal Financing for Energy Efficiency and Solar Power
Environment, January/February 2009by: Merrian Fuller, Stephen Portis, Daniel KammenThis article analyzes creative financing initiatives that promote solar development while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. -
A Guide on Equitable Clean Energy Program Design for Local Governments and Partners
September 2018by: Julie Curti, Kathryn Wright, Farrah AndersonThis guide is designed to help local governments promote equity through clean energy program design. -
A Guide to Community Solar: Utility , Private, and Non-profit Project Development
November 2010by: Jason Coughlin, Jennifer Grove, Linda IrvineThis guide is designed to help local governments and community organizations plan and develop community shared solar energy projects. -
Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing of Renewables and Efficiency
July 2010by: Bethany Speer, Ron KoenigThis fact sheet outlines the benefits of property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing and specifically how it addresses barriers to solar purchasing. -
Bringing the Benefits of Solar Energy to Low-Income Consumers: A Guide for States and Municipalities
May 2017by: Bentham PaulosThis guide is designed to help states and local governments design and implement policies and programs to promote solar access for low-income consumers. -
California Solar Permitting Guidebook: Improving Permit Review and Approval for Small Solar Systems
2017by: Sandy Goldberg, Samuel DiazThis guide is designed to help cities and counties in California improve their permitting processes for solar energy systems. -
A Step by Step Tool Kit for Local Governments to Go Solar
2009This guide is designed to help cities and counties in California use policies, programs, and investments to support solar energy use. -
A Municipal Guidebook for Solar Zoning and Permitting: Zoning and Permitting Solar in Your Municipality
December 2012by: Kay Pierce, Paul Lauer, Gordon IsraelsonThis guide is designed to help municipalities update zoning regulations and permitting processes to encourage solar development. -
Aggregate Net Metering: Opportunities for Local Governments
July 2013by: Chelsea BarnesThis guide is designed to help local governments understand and support aggregate net metering. -
Minnesota Grow Solar: Local Government Solar Toolkit
August 2017by: Abby Finis, Brian Ross, AICPThis guide is designed to help cities and counties in Minnesota update plans, zoning regulations, and permitting processes to promote solar development. -
Wisconsin Grow Solar: Local Government Solar Toolkit
October 2017by: Brian Ross, AICP, Abby FinisThis guide is designed to help cities and counties in Wisconsin update plans, zoning regulations, and permitting processes to promote solar development. -
Illinois Grow Solar: Local Government Solar Toolkit
June 2017by: Brian Ross, AICP, Abby FinisThis guide is designed to help cities and counties in Illinois update plans, zoning regulations, and permitting processes to promote solar development. -
Iowa Grow Solar: Local Government Solar Toolkit
March 2016by: Brian Ross, AICP, Abby FinisThis guide is designed to help cities and counties in Iowa update plans, zoning regulations, and permitting processes to promote solar development. -
Green Power Procurement: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs
2014This guide is designed to help local governments design and implement a green power purchasing strategy. -
Guide to Implementing Solar PV for Local Governments
2014by: Emily Dodson, Christopher Doyle, Robert LockhartThis guide is designed to help local governments install solar energy systems on public land and buildings. -
Washington Planning and Zoning: Opportunities for Local Governments to Support Rooftop Solar
March 2013by: Joyce Phillips, AICP, Denise Novotny, Tim StearnsThis guide is designed to help cities and counties in Washington support solar energy use through plans, development regulations, and permitting processes. -
Local Lending for Solar PV: A Guide for Local Governments Seeking to Engage Financial Institutions
November 2013by: Christina Becker-Birck, Jayson Uppal, Emily ChessinThis guide is designed to help local governments conduct outreach to lenders to help them understand opportunities to support solar development. -
Rhode Island Comprehensive Plans and Solar Energy Systems
February 2019by: Nancy Hess, Paul Gonsalves, Christopher KearnsThis guide is designed to help municipalities in Rhode Island address solar energy use in their comprehensive plans and zoning regulations. -
CSRA-RC, GA, Integrating Solar Land Uses: A Regulatory Template for CSRA Communities
2015This guide is designed to help cities and counties in east-central Georgia, adopt solar development regulations. -
Low-Income Solar Policy Guide
March 2016This guide is designed to help policymakers and solar advocates understand opportunities for creating low-income solar programs and policies. -
On-Site Renewable Energy Generation: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs
2014This guide is designed to help local governments identify opportunities to support solar and other renewable energy development on public facilities and throughout their communities. -
Purchasing Power: Best Practices Guide to Solar Procurement
2011by: Jenna Goodward, Rachel Massaro, Benjamin FosterThis guide is designed to help both public and commercial entities organize and execute collaborative purchases of solar power. -
Publicly Supported Solar Loan Programs: A Guide for States and Municipalities
January 2017by: Travis LowderThis guide is designed to help states and municipalities develop and implement loan programs to support home owners financing solar energy systems. -
DVRPC, PA-NJ-DE, Renewable Energy Ordinance Framework: Solar PV
February 2015This guide is designed to help municipalities in metropolitan Philadelphia develop and adopt zoning regulations for small-scale solar energy systems. -
Solar Deployment Guidebook: A Resource for State and Local Governments
December 2018by: Stephen Goss, Sandy FazeliThis guide is designed to help state and local governments address barriers to solar development.