The City of Council Bluffs is seeking ways to encourage solar energy development in our community. On April 20, 2020, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20-97, which directed the Mayor to execute a letter to the International City/County Management Association and The Solar Foundation announcing the City’s commitment to become a SolSmart-designated community. As of August 2021, Council Bluffs Iowa was accepted as a SolSmart city, and the letter affirms Council Bluffs' commitment to "improve solar market conditions, making it faster, easier, and more affordable for our residents and businesses to install solar energy systems." We as citizens of Council Bluffs are proud to be recognized as a national leader in advancing solar energy. For full details, please see the SolSmart Press Release 2021
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, SolSmart recognizes cities and counties for cutting red tape and making solar affordable and accessible for homes and businesses, and the leaders of Council Bluffs Iowa are dedicated to reducing solar energy costs at the local level and encouraging even more homes and businesses to use this clean, affordable energy source. The SolSmart Gold designation recognizes that we are “open for solar business,” helping to attract solar industry investment that generates economic development and jobs. This is very good for our local area, and time will tell how quickly this takes off as solar is a large up front investment, but it pays off long term in so many ways.
The following are the goals for the City of Council Bluffs:
1. Create a 10-year sustainability master plan to include goals and objectives to decrease energy, water and fossil fuel use along with Greenhouse gas emission by 2030 while also increasing reuse and recycling of materials.
2. Enact policies to remove barriers and support the installation of sustainable, clean energy.
3. Engage the community and surrounding areas to encourage clean energy practices.
Important information about the City of Council Bluffs' solar permitting process and solar energy in general can be found by contacting the Permits and Inspections Division at (712) 890-5276 or the Planning & Zoning Division at (712) 890-5350. Also, see the files below:
Zoning Fact Sheet for Solar Energy Conversion Systems