The Environment Virginia Research & Policy Center launched a brand new report, “A 21st-Century Permitting Regime for Rooftop Solar and Home Batteries in Virginia,” on the Virginia Clean Energy Summit. The report, co-authored with Allow Energy and the Chesapeake Photo voltaic and Storage Affiliation (CHESSA), particulars the present state of photo voltaic allowing in Virginia.
As vitality demand skyrockets in Virginia, the report finds that the state is ill-equipped to satisfy the second. An antiquated, patchwork system of photo voltaic allowing necessities throughout Virginia is contributing to delays and pushing up prices for householders.
“Pointless pink tape is holding Virginia again from reaching our rooftop photo voltaic potential. With on the spot allowing we will put photo voltaic panels on the roofs of our houses and join them to the grid as quick and hassle-free as attainable, with out compromising high quality or security,” stated Elly Wilson, state director of Surroundings Virginia Analysis & Coverage Heart.
Key findings of the report embody:
- 16% of residential photo voltaic tasks that start the allowing course of are deserted earlier than completion, largely resulting from allowing limitations.
- The median wait time for a residential photo voltaic allow is 9 enterprise days, with some cities and counties usually reaching so long as 18 or 24 enterprise days.
- The median time of the following inspection course of took a further 13 days.
- Allowing and associated bureaucratic prices can add $6,000 to $7,000 in extra bills to residential photo voltaic techniques.
- Residential photo voltaic prices roughly double what it might value in Europe.
- The difficulties related to the allowing course of are contributing to delayed residential photo voltaic adoption in Virginia.
The report factors to on the spot allowing as a key solution to modernize the residential photo voltaic allowing course of — utilizing an automatic system for reviewing photo voltaic set up plans. These platforms ask photo voltaic installers detailed questions relating to {the electrical}, structural and fireplace security of a proposed photo voltaic system after which test whether or not the mission is in compliance with native codes.
“Residential photo voltaic is a priceless instrument for Virginia. Photo voltaic helps households decrease their vitality payments. And the extra vitality made regionally in Virginia, reminiscent of from residential photo voltaic, helps maintain prices down for all Virginians,” stated Robin Dutta, Government Director of CHESSA. “Counties in Virginia ought to modernize their allow processes and assets, undertake automated allowing and work with the residential photo voltaic trade to assist Commonwealth residents to combat this vitality affordability disaster.”
Information merchandise from the Surroundings Virginia Analysis & Coverage Heart
