Clean Power Finance to Unveil National Solar Permitting Database
One of the biggest hindrances to the installation of solar technology is obtaining the correct permit to do so. The rules and regulations change from city to city, state to state, and are costly at that.
This week at Solar Power International 2012, Clean Power Finance plans to unveil the initial prototype of the National Solar Permitting Database that it has been working on.
The National Solar Permitting Database is designed to streamline the process of acquiring permits to install solar technology by gathering permitting data and stands from Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) around the United States in one single location.
Solar professionals and anyone installing solar equipment will be able to search the database for complete and accurate information on permitting requirements for their particular location.
“Permitting is a widely recognized pain point in the solar sector, but we think this project can change that,” said James Tong, director of government programs management at Clean Power Finance. “Collecting permitting information in a database that is available to all solar integrators without charge will dramatically improve time and cost savings for both solar professionals and AHJs and help lower the overall installed cost of solar.”
The Database will be available to the entire industry for free, thanks in part to a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. The Database will be relying on solar professionals and AHJs submitting their permitting information for the locations in which they operate, and already a number of leading industry companies have pledged their support, including Paramount Solar, SunWize Technologies, Next Step Living, B.E. Solar, PvPermits, and Real Goods Solar, Inc.
“We’re very happy to help Clean Power Finance with the National Solar Permitting Database,” commented John Schaeffer, founder and residential president at Real Goods Solar, Inc. “We believe this program will help significantly in sorting out the confusion from numerous jurisdictions around the country, thereby reducing cycle time, design and administration costs. Ultimately, we will be able to set better expectations with customers, which will foster profitable growth in new solar markets.”
Source: Clean Power Finance
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