Athens earns top solar designation, leads sustainability efforts

By Farah Siddiqi

The City of Athens has become the first in Ohio, and one of the first 10 in the nation, to earn the SolSmart Platinum designation, the highest recognition for local governments advancing solar energy.

The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, honors communities making it faster, easier and more affordable to go solar.

Steve Patterson, mayor of Athens, said their city has made it possible for residents to apply online for a rooftop or ground-mount solar permit and receive approval within 24 hours.

"It was through SolSmart and their guidance that we were able to achieve that here in the City of Athens, where I have a population of about 30,000," Patterson explained. "We're in the heart of rural Appalachian Ohio and really trying to create an atmosphere where we're very forward-thinking and environmentally conscious."

To reach Platinum status, Athens implemented instant permitting, installed solar on city facilities and created community partnerships through the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council. The city’s carbon-fee ballot measure, approved by 76% of voters, funds solar projects on public buildings.

Athens’ sustainability leadership also extends beyond solar. Patterson pointed out the city's per capita emissions are roughly five tons compared with Ohio’s average of 20, thanks to walkability, tree canopies and renewable energy investments.

"Athens has been identified as a community that has the lowest carbon emissions per capita in the state of Ohio, and we're easily in the top 10% nationally," Patterson emphasized. "We’re forever looking at ways to be more sustainable and resilient in protecting the planet."

The city’s partnerships with the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council and Power a Clean Future Ohio continue to drive progress in clean energy and emissions reduction. Athens leaders said the recognition reinforces even small, rural cities can set big examples for sustainability.

Athens’ SolSmart Platinum award underscored how community engagement and local policy can accelerate the clean energy transition, a model other Ohio towns are now studying.