The Village of Mount Prospect is a SolSmart Gold designated community indicating the village is “open for solar business”.

SolSmart is a national designation program that recognizes communities that reduce local barriers to solar energy. The program is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, SolSmart strives to reduce barriers, encourage solar deployment, and make it possible for even more homes and businesses to access solar energy to meet their electricity needs. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus worked in partnership with SolSmart to recruit communities and help them meet the requirements for designation.

Here are some examples of actions taken by the Village of Mount Prospect to achieve Solsmart Gold:

• Staff created webpages to share information on how to get started in considering solar energy and a permitting checklist which reviews local codes, the permitting process and how to schedule an inspection.  
• The Building and Inspection Services Department received training on best practices for permitting and inspecting solar PV systems. 
• Committing to provide a timely review of solar PV permit applications. Best efforts are made to review completed solar permit applications within three (3) business days.
• Roof-top mount solar PV is allowed by-right in all zoning districts (Village Code Section 14.317).
• The Village hosted solar information sessions titled “Solar Power Hours” in 2019 and 2020 for community members to “learn about the basics of solar and its financial implications for a household. These sessions were coordinated by the Citizens Utility Board and Midwest Renewable Energy Association's Solarize Chicagoland community-wide residential solar purchase program.
• In 2021, the Village of Mount Prospect partnered with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to launch the state's largest community solar program called the CS2 Residential and Small Commercial ' Community Solar' Program, providing consumers easy and immediate access to new community solar farms in northern Illinois. 

In addition to achieving a SolSmart Gold designation, the Village of Mount Prospect was presented with a Special Recognition Award by SolSmart. The SolSmart Special Recognition Award celebrates and shines a light on communities that have gone above and beyond – earning at least 60% of the total points available in one or more of the eight SolSmart categories of Permitting; Planning, Zoning and Development; Inspection; Construction Codes; Solar Rights; Utility Engagement; Community Engagement; and Marketing, Development and Finance. The Village of Mount Prospect received a Special Recognition Award for excellence in the Community Engagement criteria category. 

SolSmart uses objective criteria to award communities points based on the actions they take to reduce barriers to solar energy development. Communities that take sufficient action are designated either gold, silver, or bronze.

As part of the SolSmart program, a team of national experts provides no-cost technical assistance to help communities achieve a designation. All municipalities, counties, and regional organizations are eligible to join the SolSmart program and receive this technical assistance. Learn more at SolSmart.org.