Jurisdictions Could Win Up to $15,000 With SolarAPP+ Prize

The U.S Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office recently launched the SolarAPP+ Prize to accelerate adoption of SolarAPP+ by local jurisdictions.

SolarAPP+ is an online platform, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), that instantly issues permits for code-compliant residential PV systems. While SolarAPP+ is free for communities to adopt, there are associated costs that arise during the implementation process. The SolarAPP+ Prize was created to ease the burden of these costs for communities. Please note that communities must meet certain criteria in order to use SolarAPP+; see guidelines for eligibility here.

The prize consists of a simple, two-step competition—application and implementation. To apply, local jurisdictions complete a questionnaire and upload a letter of support by November 4, 2022, to demonstrate a desire to pilot SolarAPP+. Communities that are selected in Step 1 will then be eligible to compete in Step 2 and submit proof of a SolarAPP+ pilot by April 27, 2023, to receive the $15,000 cash prize.

NREL will be available to support local jurisdictions and provide technical assistance throughout the duration of the prize period.

SolarAPP+ and SolSmart

SolarAPP+ is a powerful tool in its own right, but it can also help you get your community certified as SolSmart Bronze, Silver, or Gold. SolarAPP+ can streamline the designation process and provide a significant number of credits, especially in the Permitting and Inspection category. See how to use SolarAPP+ for SolSmart Bronze here and for SolSmart Silver and Gold here.