Permitting is one of the biggest challenges to solar growth at the local level. Across the 18,000 local jurisdictions in the U.S., the solar permitting process differs greatly and is often expensive, time-consuming, and outdated.
By implementing a streamlined and more standardized permitting process, local governments can make installing solar faster, easier, and more affordable for their staff, local residents, businesses, and solar companies. An important byproduct of a simplified process is making solar more affordable so that much more solar can be installed.
For SolSmart participants, adopting the solar photovoltaic (PV) or PV + energy storage system (ESS) permitting process outlined below will meet SolSmart criteria PI-1/PI-2/PI-5/PI-7.
