In order to increase its use of solar energy, the City of Easton is pursuing a new project.
A resolution to collaborate with SolSmart, a nationwide initiative that offers local governments free technical support to increase the use of solar energy and expedite the zoning and permitting procedures, was formally passed by the city council on Wednesday.
According to Brandon Sullivan, the city’s sustainability coordinator, SolSmart will guide the utilization of federal and state incentives while assisting the city in investigating potential installation locations, including as city hall and parking garages.
Municipalities can now earn a 30% tax credit for solar projects under the Inflation Reduction Act. However, Trump’s July 4 bill repeals several of the Act’s provisions, phasing out tax credits for energy-efficient homes, sustainable energy, and electric vehicles.
According to Sullivan, there are incentives available to both citizens and governments nationwide that enable them to deduct 30% of expenses through what is known as the ITC credit. At the conclusion of the year, that is now abruptly disappearing.
Sullivan advised the city to utilize the available funding before the deadline, even if SolSmart itself is not in danger of going out of business.
The United States Department of Energy first supplied money for SolSmart, which is led by the International City/County Management Association and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
At the moment, it serves more than 550 towns across 44 states. In Pennsylvania, designations have been given to about 30 municipalities.
Bethlehem joined SolSmart in May and is awaiting designation, according to Sullivan.
A PZ-1 zoning study, which evaluates a community’s zoning laws to identify potential obstacles to solar energy production, is one of the initial procedures the city has already finished in order to become certified as SolSmart.
The program’s goal is to assist cities like Easton in enacting solar-friendly policies and updating local ordinances. According to Sullivan, Easton’s involvement is in line with the city’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to put rooftop solar on 20% of low- and moderate-income houses by 2030.
Adoption rates are still low, according to Sullivan.
Only 56 residences in the entire city of Easton have solar, which is less than 1% of all homes, he said.
The initiative will establish Easton as a solar leader in the Lehigh Valley, he said.
According to Sullivan, it allows the city to continue using its resources effectively while also obtaining the free technical support and extra funding required to promote solar energy in order to fulfill the requirements of its climate action plan.
You can contact Chelsea McClure at [email protected]. Follow her at @chelsealehighvalley on Instagram.
