Malden designated “SolSmart Bronze” for solar energy actions

Special to The Advocate

Mayor Gary Christenson announced this week that the City of Malden received a Bronze designation from the national SolSmart program for encouraging the growth of affordable solar energy options at the local level. “This initiative will help our residents and businesses save time, save money, and save the planet,” said Mayor Christenson. “The SolSmart program has helped us cut red tape and streamline the process of installing solar panels for homeowners and businesses, which will help Maldonians reduce energy costs.”

As a SolSmart designee, Malden has adopted nationally recognized best practices to advance solar market growth. The city government worked with SolSmart’s no-cost technical assistance team to increase local knowledge of solar energy so the entire community can benefit. “We are excited to have reached this milestone so quickly,” said Climate Action & Sustainability Commission (CASC) Chair Ricky Ma, who is a member of the working group that drove this initiative forward.

He added, “This is a win for Malden and it will make going solar easier and more accessible.”

Becoming SolSmart designated by 2026 was one of Malden’s key objectives from its 2024 Climate Action Plan, and it was one of the first initiatives taken up by the CASC. To achieve its SolSmart designation, Malden conducted an internal zoning review, set up an online permitting platform, adopted the Board of Building Regulations and Standards Stretch Code, posted a Solar Permitting Checklist on its website and installed its own solar panels on certain municipal buildings, among other steps.

Local governments achieve SolSmart designation by meeting established criteria that are based on national best practices for building solar-friendly communities. The SolSmart team of experts offers no-cost technical assistance and resources to help communities put these practices into action. Those that meet the criteria are designated SolSmart Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze.

The SolSmart Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office. Over 580 cities, towns, counties and regional organizations have achieved SolSmart designation since the program launched in 2016. Learn more about the program at SolSmart.org.

For more information on how to install solar panels on your property, visit https://www.cityofmalden.org/182/Inspectional-Services