The City of Fort Worth recently announced that it has been recognized with a Silver Silver designation from the SolSmart program for promoting solar energy. This achievement underscores the city's commitment to fostering the growth of sustainable and affordable solar options for its community.
Achieving the SolSmart Silver status means that Fort Worth can now showcase to its residents and businesses that it is actively working to facilitate the implementation of solar energy solutions readily. The Environmental Services and Development Services departments collaborated to quickly improve local solar knowledge and share its advantages across the community. According to the City of Forth Worth, the decision to gear up permitting and inspection staff on best practices for solar energy has been integral to this achievement.
As part of the process to earn this designation, the City took several steps to ease the solar installation process. Fort Worth's Development Services Department made it clear that both residential and commercial zones can accommodate solar energy without unnecessary barriers. Furthermore, the Environmental Services Department launched a user-friendly website, greatly simplifying the installation process, which is now faster, less costly, and straightforward for anyone interested in adopting solar energy.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, SolSmart is an initiative helmed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). It's been a catalyst for change since its inception in 2016, now boasting over 500 designees, including cities, towns, and regional agencies. The city’s announcement noted that Fort Worth's designation as a Silver City will now better position it to support environmental and economic sustainability objectives.
