This guide outlines the key steps that cities should undertake to create a comprehensive energy action plan. Section 4, “Stakeholder Collaboration and Community Engagement,” provides suggestions on successfully engaging your community on key energy issues.
Greenhouse Gas Protocol for Cities
This guide provides standards and tools to help cities quantify their emissions.
SolSmart Program Guides
The SolSmart program guides are comprehensive resources for local governments with information on the SolSmart designation and technical assistance process.
Planning and Zoning for Solar Energy: Updated Edition
This Planning Advisory Service Essential Info Packet provides an extensive collection of sample ordinances on topics including solar access, solar siting, and solar energy systems, along with many examples of how communities are adding solar provisions to their comprehensive, subarea, and functional plans.
Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems
This in-depth guidebook provides step-by-step instructions on how to expedite permitting process for small scale PV systems.
AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT)
This tool helps users estimate the potential greenhouse gas and air pollution impacts of a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
Climate Action for Urban Sustainability (CURB) Tool
The Climate Action for Urban Sustainability (CURB) tool uses local city data to provide tailored analyses that will help cities evaluate low carbon actions. In case there are data gaps – a common problem in many cities – CURB provides alternative data from comparable cities, countries, or regions.
Green Power Supply Options
This website provides summaries of the most common forms of renewable energy procurement.
Pathways to 100: An Energy Supply Transformation Primer for U.S. Cities
This report provides insights to help cities identify which renewable procurement options may be available to them.
Solar State-By-State Factsheets
This website provides state-level solar metrics (total current solar capacity, solar installations, solar jobs, etc.) that could be utilized in determining renewable energy goals.