The International City/County Management Association received a $5 million award from the Department of Energy (DOE) to head a team that will work with local government leaders to accelerate wider adoption of solar energy.

Using the award, the association will help local governments overcome technical barriers to solar energy adoption by sharing resources developed through DOE-sponsored activities, such as the Solar America Cities [www.solaramericacities.energy.gov] program.

Other groups involved in the project are the American Planning Association, the National Association of Regional Councils, and solar industry experts.

“Helping communities shift toward solar energy makes sense from an economic and environmental perspective,” Ron Carlee, the association’s director of strategic domestic initiatives, said in a statement.

Members of the International City/County Management Association are nearly 9,000 city, town, and county experts and other individuals and organizations throughout the world. Since 1996, the association has operated the Smart Growth Network and LGEAN, the Local Government Environmental Assistance Network, a resource for general and compliance information about environmental issues.

Jean Dimeo is Chief Editor, Online for EcoHome.