Northfield Gets 'Silver Designation' From SolSmart

NORTHFIELD, MN — The city of Northfield announced that it received a Silver designation from the national SolSmart program for its work to help homes and businesses convert to solar power.

The city said it is helping solar companies reduce the cost of installations and passing the savings to consumers. This helps more homes and businesses have access to solar power that is clean and affordable, the city said.

"As part of the SolSmart designation process we have updated our website with additional building permit information as well has having some of our inspections staff take part in training geared to solar installations," Mike Morehouse, city building official said.

Northfield's designation will also encourage solar companies to do business in the area, creating local jobs, the city said.

"Northfield has a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity for our community by 2030," Beth Kallestad, Climate Action Plan program coordinator, said. "To achieve that goal there will need to be an increase in locally generated energy such as on-site solar. Working through the SolSmart designation process helped us to see where some improvements that are within the city’s control could be made and others still to make."

Over 400 cities, counties and small towns have received SolSmart designation since the program launched in 2016, the city said.

SolSmart is "led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office," the city said.

More information is available here.