Automated Solar Permitting
By Evelyn Laferriere & Brandon Toye
Energy affordability is a high-priority issue facing elected officials, utility companies, and the residents they both serve. Installing solar seems to be a straightforward solution to this problem — if residents can rely on their own electricity generation, they can worry less about grid electricity prices. However, upfront costs of rooftop solar can be hefty, and projects can be abandoned due to what David Roberts of the Volts Podcast(opens in new tab) calls the “paperwork tax.”
The term “paperwork tax” refers to the often onerous permitting process contractors and residents face when seeking to install rooftop solar. The weeks to months it can take to approve permits increases costs for installers, which are then passed on to residents. This “red tape” has been seen to slow residential solar installations across the country.
Good news—there is a solution to this problem that is decreasing costs and increasing the amount of solar installed. This solution is called “Automated Permitting.” Municipal Building Inspectors can adopt platforms, such as SolarAPP+(opens in new tab) , that automatically approve or deny applications submitted by solar contractors. SolarAPP+ references approved equipment lists and enforces local zoning codes, so it is tailorable to any municipality. According to the SolarAPP+ website,(opens in new tab) “if non-compliant or erroneous information is entered, SolarAPP+ immediately flags the issue within the platform, with context, so contractors can address the issue without back-and-forth reviews.”
Once the submitted plan is verified as compliant, contractors submit payment and receive final approval documents. This saves municipal building inspectors/code enforcement officials time and allows them to focus on larger projects, such as municipal or commercial-scale installations. It also allows for instantaneous approval, which keeps residential projects rolling and removes delays that can cause homeowners to reconsider.
Set-up for the SolarAPP+ platform is minimal, completely free of charge for municipalities, and once the platform is up and running, it is easy for contractors to use and doesn’t require extra work by building inspectors. The City of Kingston is the first jurisdiction in New York State to adopt automated permitting for residential rooftop solar and residential battery storage systems. According to an article on the City’s website(opens in new tab), “local solar installers will be able to submit applications and receive approved permits the same day for projects that meet the City’s code requirements.”
If your municipality is interested in adopting SolarAPP+, please reach out to your Clean Energy Communities Coordinator.(opens in new tab)