This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
During Tuesday nights council meeting, the City of Longmont was awarded the SolSmart Bronze Designation.
Tom Roiniotis, General Manager of Longmont Power & Communications (LPC), and LPC Key Account Manager Robert Love received the award along with Mayor Bagley and councilmembers.
"This certification reflects the attention that both the LPC and the planning and development services have put into improving the customers' experience in making Longmont open for solar business," said Love.
"In the last three years, the number of solar customers in Longmont has nearly tripled and this certification helps alert our residents that Longmont is interested in making this process simple for them, which in turn should encourage more participation within the community."
The designation is awarded to communities that make it faster and easier to go solar. According to city council communication, the City of Longmont currently provides residents a way to apply for a solar installation permit online and takes, on average, about five days for the permit to be issued. The City has also streamlined their "existing process to a few simple steps."
SolSmart is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot initiative, which launched in 2011 to help reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar energy systems by 75% by 2020.
