It’s time for some autumn sunlight.

I know, those two words don’t usually go together in a Colorado November. This is the time when days grow short and light grows scarce, when “Here Comes the Sun” gets drowned out by “Let’s Go, Broncos – Please?”

But today, Longmont has some sunny news dawning. The city has just received its SolSmart Gold designation.

If you’re not familiar with it, SolSmart is a five-year-old program funded by the Department of Energy  that encourages communities to become more solar-friendly. That includes things like making it easier to get a permit for solar panels, or having codes that allow solar energy in all major zones, or simply having helpful solar information available online. The more you do, the more you get recognized, and the simpler the solar process gets for everybody.

Longmont first got its SolSmart Bronze designation in 2017, upgrading to Silver in 2020. Gold marks the final SolSmart award we can get – but it’s certainly not the end of Longmont’s interest in solar energy.

Back in 2018, Longmont had 234 solar customers. Today, we have 525, a 124% increase in just three years, and the number continues to grow. On a larger scale,  solar – along with wind and water-based energy – is part of Longmont’s efforts to get to 100% non-carbon electricity by 2030, including the Rawhide Flats and Rawhide Prairie solar sites that supply power to our wholesale provider, Platte River Power Authority.

If you’re considering solar yourself, check out our solar energy page on the LPC website. We’ve got answers to common questions, some things to consider in deciding whether solar’s right for you, and a quick checklist for getting your system approved and installed.

Look it over. You just might decide it’s a bright idea.