SolSmart, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, has awarded a gold designation to recognize Philadelphia as a national leader in advancing solar energy by adopting programs and practices that make it faster, easier and less expensive to go solar. A SolSmart designation is a signal that the community is helping attract solar industry investment to generate economic development and local jobs.

To achieve designation, cities and counties take steps to reduce non-hardware solar “soft costs” that represent roughly two-thirds of the total price of an installed residential system. Amanda Warwood, city of Philadelphia energy analyst, states, “This designation recognizes the Office of Sustainability’s work to reduce solar permitting costs, create a solar guidebook and implement and update an expedited permitting process.”

For more information, visit Energy.gov/sunshot.