Montgomery County is the first local government in Maryland to be recognized with a SolSmart Platinum designation, the highest level awarded, for
encouraging the growth of affordable solar energy options at the local level.
In 2020, Montgomery County was awarded a SolSmart Gold designation.
From the county press release:
“We’ve worked hard to remove the barriers that slow down solar adoption, and this recognition shows that the work is paying off,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Predictability in permitting is important, and the DPS eSolar program provides that by issuing permits the same day, making it easier for residents to go solar. I appreciate the work our Permitting Services team has done to streamline the process, and I hope this designation encourages even more people to make the switch to clean energy.”
SolSmart is a national organization that helps local governments and organizations become solar energy leaders.
To achieve the recent SolSmart Platinum designation, the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) trained staff on best practices for permitting solar energy and solar-plus storage systems, created an online permitting checklist, launched the new eSolar program for residential rooftops and unveiled a new solar dashboard to report the number of residential solar installations and average permitting and inspection turnaround times.
The new solar permitting dashboard and map highlights the growth of the eSolar program over the last six months in Montgomery County. The rolling dashboard features a side-by-side comparison of eSolar permits and residential rooftop solar permits, including the average number of days to issue a permit and the total number of systems installed. The dashboard is updated daily.
Montgomery County’s SolSmart Platinum designation demonstrates how local policies can directly benefit residents. By streamlining solar permitting through initiatives like the eSolar program and increasing transparency with tools like the real-time solar dashboard, the County has made it faster, easier, and more predictable for homeowners to switch to clean energy. This not only supports Montgomery’s climate goals, but also helps residents reduce utility costs, invest in their homes, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
