Idea for Nation's First Streamlined Solar Permitting Law Started Right Here in the South Bay

California is once again setting the example for the rest of the nation with the Solar Permit Streamlining Act which was signed by Governor Brown on Sunday. And today, I celebrated that victory with hardhat-wearing solar installers, local business leaders, and elected officials at the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce.

Many folks don’t know that the idea for the Solar Permit Streamlining Act (AB 2188) stemmed from right here in the South Bay when I visited a local business --Verengo Solar -- and Randy, CEO & Co-Founder of Verengo, shared with me a problem that his business was facing: it often takes 65 days to install solar panels on someone’s home -- 64 days dealing with regulations to get permits and approvals, and 1 day actually spent installing the panels.

Randy’s story inspired me to take action and introduce AB 2188 to help streamline and help cut through the red tape for residential solar installation.

Many cities have already adopted best practices that have expedited permits while maintaining important building and safety code standards. Now, with this new law, it’s time to expand these best practices statewide so that we can:

• Make solar more affordable
• Create more solar jobs
• Allow residents to create their own clean energy
• And support California’s fight against climate change

In fact, a recent UCLA study* noted that if solar reached just 5% of roofs in Los Angeles County, over 28,000 jobs could be created and carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by over 1 million tons, which is the equivalent of removing 225,000 cars from the road. In sum, AB 2188 is good for homeowners, good for jobs, and good for the environment.

Thank you to CALSEIA and all the solar businesses who worked so hard with me to get this important piece of legislation to the Governor’s desk.

-Al Muratsuchi

Assemblymember, 66th AD

*Link to UCLA study: http://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/LASER_Atlas.pdf