Permitting

The broad variation in permitting requirements, both in data requested and time required, across our local and regional jurisdictions, translates into significant costs and delays for solar installers. The lack of transparency and consistency in permitting requirements are creating barriers that must be addressed by the industry in order to drive down costs for installers as well as municipalities.

SolarTech’s objective is to develop and implement standard solar permitting forms and inspection practices through a collaborative process, working with local jurisdictions and building officials. The benefit of achieving the objectives is faster PV project approvals, predictable installation timelines, and more efficient utilization of industry and public resources.

Committee Goal: Reduce permit times by 50% by 2011, resulting in $1-2,000 saved in reduced cost per install for BOTH cities and solar installers.

SolarTech members are engaged in a public / private dialogue to address the following:

The Need to develop a set of best practices

Evaluating constraints to adopting best practices

Removing barriers to solar systems from building and zoning codes

Simplifying permitting application forms and review processes

Adopting flat permit fees, cost recovery, or fee waivers for renewable energy systems

Education opportunities for building and electrical inspectors on proper installation procedures for distributed renewable energy systems

DRAFT State Fire Guidelines

Regional effort to adopt legislation at the state level mandating consistent and appropriate permitting requirements for distributed renewable energy systems

Projects

SolarTech is the industry Lead on the Bay Area Climate Collaborative (BACC) Working Group Goal #1 to proactively create cross-section, cross-jurisdictional and public-private partnerships across the region in support of implementation of the Bay Area Climate Change Compact, and spurring the development of a green economy.

On-going partnership with the DOE’s Solar America Board of Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) on best practices and adoption

On-Line Permitting 1: Development of a software interoperability standard for different programs to exchange data using the same protocols. More info

On-Line Permitting 2: Creation of an industry “Permitting Challenge” to develop online permitting solutions that will reduce time and eliminate the redundant paperwork. This competition requires software providers to formulate teams with cities, integrators and utilities, to develop a pilot solution and an on-line process for solar permitting. The winning team will lead a public demonstration at the SolarTech Solar Leadership Summit, April 21-22, 2010. More info

Solartech Participants: Working together with local jurisdictions and building officials, SolarTech Members are achieving their objectives of faster PV project approvals, predictable installation timelines, resulting in more efficient utilization of industry and public resources.