Clean Energy Communities
Program:
How your municipality can earn CEC credit with
solar PV permitting
Presented by Connecticut’s Clean Energy Finance and
Investment Authority (CEFIA/ CT’s Green Bank)
June 5, 2014
Clean Energy Communities
Program Overview
Program Steps:
1. Commit to the “Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge” to save energy
in municipal buildings* and voluntarily purchase renewable energy
•
By 2018, reduce municipal building energy consumption 20% from baseline levels
•
By 2018, voluntarily purchase 20% of municipal building electricity use from
renewable energy sources
2. Fulfill the Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge by taking actions to
save energy and to support renewable energy voluntarily
3. Earn energy efficiency and renewable energy points that can be redeemed
for clean energy systems and grants for energy-saving projects.
93 Communities in CT have made the pledge!
*Municipal = Town + Board of Education facilities
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
Project Overview
Make Solar PV Cost-Competitive
by 2020 (SunShot)
Make residential adoption of
solar PV easier, faster, cheaper
(Rooftop Solar Challenge)
Conduct research and
develop tools and
recommendations
(Round I)
2 Project
Rounds
Package and implement
tools and
recommendations
(Round I and II)
CT Residential PV Costs (2004-2013)
Soft Cost Percentage Increased to 50%
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
Municipal Approvals
Number of Departments Requiring Approval
(R= residential, C= commercial)
Town
1
2
3
4
5
6
R/C
Bridgeport
R/C
Cornwall
Coventry
R/C
Danbury
R/C
Fairfield
R/C
R
Greenwich
Hampton
R/C
Manchester
R
Middletown
R/C
Milford
R
C
C
C
R
Stamford
West Hartford
7
R/C
C
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
Municipal Permit Fees
Significant Variation in Permit Fees for Solar PV
1000
The estimated permit fee for a typical, residential solar PV system varies widely
across CT municipalities, from 0 to $921. It is estimated to cost less than $200 for
a town to permit such a system.
900
Permit Fee ($)
800
Highest Fee
$921
700
600
Average fee
$401
500
400
SAVINGS
300
200
Proposed
$200
Permit
Fee Cap
Average cost to town is $200 maximum
100
0
Lowest Fee
$0
Manchester
Bridgeport
0
50
100
169 CT towns in order of increasing permit fees
150
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
Rooftop Solar PV Permitting Guide
Available for download at www.energizect.com/sunrisene
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
What’s in it for towns?
Prepare
Municipal
Staff for
Solar PV
Become a
Greener
Community
Attract Solar
PV Business
Ensure solar PV
systems are
installed safely in
your community
Pilot techniques
that can help
streamline all of
your municipal
permitting
Help residents
and businesses
access affordable
solar and lower
energy costs
Increase business
activity in your
community
Meet your Clean
Energy
Community
pledge
Improve your
town’s
sustainability
and reputation
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
Recommendations Overview
1.
Standardize Permit Application and Submission
2.
Adopt Best Practices for Permit Processing
3.
Develop Zoning Regulations for Solar
1. Standardize Permit Application and Submission
Standard Solar PV Permit Application
A solar-specific application helps staff get the info they need, the first time.
Connecticut’s Standardized Solar PV Permit Application Includes:
 Comprehensive Application that collects key info necessary for solar PV permitting
(can replace or supplement existing permit application)
Attachments:
 One-Line Electrical Drawing
 One-Line Site Plan Drawing
 Attachment Details (Line Drawing)
 Solar PV Module and Inverter Specification Sheets from Manufacturer
 Pole or Ground Mount Information (if applicable)
 Additional Information for Large Solar PV Systems (as specified by the
Municipality)
 Instructions Sheet for permit application and attachments
 Optional Structural Review Worksheet to help assess a roof structure’s ability to
support solar PV
AVAILABLE AS A
STANDALONE
DOCUMENT ON OUR
WEBSITE!
1. Standardize Permit Application and Submission
Online Permitting
Online Permitting can help manage increasing workloads.
Examples of Online Permitting Systems in use in CT
 Simply Civic – SunShot Initiative Incubator Awardee and CEFIA Project Partner
 Lightweight system for online application submission and management
 Free for municipalities to pilot through 2014
 ViewPermit – Software Partner of CRCOG’s CT Regional E-Government Initiative
 Comprehensive land use and permit management software system
 17 Communities in CT using View Permit
 CityView – Permit, Inspection & Payment Tracking Software
 Energov – Planning, Permitting & Licensing Software
Additional
online
permitting
software
systems are
listed in our
Permitting
Guide!
2. Adopt Best Practices for Permit Processing
Permitting & Inspection Best Practices
A Clear Permitting Process Makes Issuing Permits Easier for Everyone.
Methods for Making the Solar PV process Easier for Staff and
Contractors:
 Make Information Available Online
 Put information about your solar PV permitting process online
 Create or update your clean energy website with links to solar
PV resources and info about your town’s clean energy activities
 Make one department responsible for Solar PV Permits
 Consider Reducing or Waiving Residential Solar PV Permit Fees
Bridgeport and Manchester have already waived building permit fees for
Class I Renewable Energy projects!
2. Adopt Best Practices for Permit Processing
Permitting & Inspection Best Practices
Inspector Training (and resources) Can Improve Inspections.
Methods to Help Your Building Department Handle Solar PV Inspections:
 Provide Your Staff with Training Resources on Solar
 Online training resources and information provided in the Permitting Guide
 CEFIA will host a solar PV training for building inspectors
 Use the Solar PV Code Compliance Reference
 Outlines CT building code requirements for solar PV
 Developed by John Wiles, Solar PV Expert at New Mexico State University
 Consider Streamlining Inspection Processes
 Require a single, comprehensive inspection
 Try scheduling a specific inspection time or a narrower window of time
COMING SUMMER 2014!
CEFIA will be hosting CEU training sessions
on solar PV for building officials
3. Develop Zoning Regulations for Solar
Solar-Friendly Planning & Zoning
Updating Zoning Regulations Can Help You Prepare for Solar.
 Use our Model Zoning Ordinance to design zoning regulations that make sense for your community
and solar PV
 Examples of Zoning Restrictions that can be barriers to solar deployment:
 Height (rooftop and ground/pole mount systems)
 Setback (rooftop and ground/pole mount systems)
 Lot Coverage (ground/pole mount systems)
MODEL ORDINANCE
AVAILABLE AS A
STANDALONE
DOCUMENT ON OUR
WEBSITE!
 Impervious Surface (ground/pole mount systems)
 Comply with CT General Statute 7-147(f) for solar PV in historic and village districts
“No application for a certificate of appropriateness for an
exterior architectural feature, such as a solar energy system,
designed for the utilization of renewable resources shall be
denied unless the commission finds that the feature cannot
be installed without substantially impairing the historic
character and appearance of the district.”
- CT G.S.7-147f
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
Recommendations Summary
1.
Standardize Permit Application and Submission
Standard Application available on our website
Pilot Online Permitting
2.
Best Practices for Permit Processing
Attend CEFIA’s Solar PV Training for Building Officials
Solar PV Code Compliance Reference available on our website
3.
Develop Solar-Friendly Zoning Regulations
Model Zoning Ordinance available on our website
We are happy to provide feedback on proposed zoning regulations
Clean Energy Communities
Permitting Actions That Can Result in CEC Credit
Municipal Action Steps for Solar PV Permitting
CT Standardized Solar PV Permit Application adopted.
Online permitting system adopted including solar PV permit submission and processing.
Reduced residential solar PV permitting fee (e.g., fee waiver or flat fee of $200 or less).
Have an effective method and criteria to identify if and when a structural review and stamp by a professional engineer is or
is not needed.
Permitting staff has received solar PV-specific training relevant to improving staff processing and review of solar PV
permits.
Permit Application Requirements, Review and System Inspection (all of the following must be met)

No community-specific licenses are required over and above state requirements for solar energy workers.

One department is responsible for receiving and approving the solar PV permit. Unnecessary steps and approvals
have been eliminated.

When an inspection is required, a single comprehensive inspection is conducted, and efforts have been made to
provide a more specific inspection time.
Municipality has amended its zoning regulations to make them significantly more flexible for and friendly to solar PV.
Other significant action taken for which CEFIA might consider awarding points. E.g.:

Make information on permit process available online and create or update a municipal clean energy website

Offer local incentives for clean energy

Require consideration of solar-friendly design in subdivision regulations
Clean Energy Communities
Substitution Values
1 Permitting action = 1% of a municipality’s clean energy pledge
Permitting actions can meet up to 5% of a municipality’s clean energy pledge
Number of Actions Taken
Substitution Value
1 action
1%
2 actions
2%
3 actions
3%
4 actions
4%
5 actions
5%
6 actions
5%
7 actions
5%
8 actions
5%
Clean Energy Communities
Permitting BONUS Points
SunShot Promotional Period June 1-December 31, 2014
100 points = 1kW Solar PV
Number of Actions Taken
Bonus Points
3-4 actions
50 points
5+ actions
100 points
The first 5 towns to take 5 or more Municipal Action Steps for
Solar Permitting will earn an
additional 100 points!
CT Rooftop Solar Challenge
Next Steps…
How Can Your Municipality Start Benefiting?
 Download the CT Rooftop Solar PV Permitting Guide and Associated Resources
www.energizect.com/sunrisene
 Download the CEC Points Fact Sheet: Municipal Action Steps for Solar PV Permitting
www.energizect.com/communities/programs/clean-energy-communities (Look under the “Bonus
Rewards” tab)
 Want More Info or Assistance? Contact Isabelle Hazlewood – Project Manager for RSC II
SunShot@ctcleanenergy.com or (860) 258-7826
 Interested in exploring some of the recommendations and tools in our Guide?
 We can provide individualized help and support to towns interested in improving
processes for solar PV
THANK YOU!
Rooftop Solar Challenge
Acknowledgement & Disclaimer
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy award number DE-EE0005688.
Disclaimer: This presentation was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States
Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes
any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness,
or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not
infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade
name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement,
recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of
authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any
agency thereof.
The material provided in this presentation is not intended to replace or supplant existing state or federal codes or
regulations. There are no warranties associated with the use of this information. Some of this material, which
is/was believed to be accurate at the time of presentation, may no longer be accurate, current, or comply with
existing codes and regulations. Neither the authors nor any other organizations or individuals who have
contributed to this project report are accountable for the use or misuse of information obtained herein. The views
expressed in this report are not necessarily the views of the entire project team, the state of Connecticut nor
contributors of information to the project and report.