First In CT, Guilford Tests Energy Dept. Solar Installation Software

GUILFORD, CT — Guilford is the first in Connecticut to test U.S. Department of Energy software to speed home solar installations. Building officials in other states use the tool to instantly permit basic solar projects.

"Guilford residents will get their home solar systems installed faster, and town officials will spend less time approving those projects now that the town has become the first municipality in Connecticut to adopt a new permitting technology developed by the U.S. Department of Energy," a news release from the town reads.

Starting this month, Guilford will begin using an automated permitting tool called SolarAPP+ that instantly approves home solar permit applications that meet local requirements. Building officials using SolarAPP+ in other states say the software – offered by the DOE free to municipalities – saves them time by automating the process of approving basic, routine home solar permit applications.

SolarAPP+ can be used as a standalone tool or used to streamline the municipality’s existing on-line permitting system.

“The SolarAPP+ online permitting tool can make it much easier for us to quickly and safely approve solar projects, while benefiting local taxpayers at the same time,” First Selectman Matt Hoey said.

Officials from DOE, code and safety experts at organizations like Underwriters Laboratories, the International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association and local installer members of the Connecticut Solar & Storage Association have all pledged their support to municipalities that integrate SolarAPP+.

"The effort to streamline the permit process is motivated by serious concerns about delays in permitting for small solar and energy storage projects; slowing the deployment of clean energy that would reduce pollution, create jobs, and save customers money," it was noted.

Solar in the United States is forecast to triple in five years according to the Solar Energy Industry Association in large part to the adoption of permit streamlining technologies like SolarAPP+ and passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The IRA Act sets up 10 years of investment tax credits for solar consumers. The current ITC was to taper off starting next year.

“More home solar installations means more permits filed with municipal building officials, most of whom are for basic home designs unlike thousands of others filed over the past 10 years,” said ConnSSA Executive Director Mike Trahan. “Instant permitting is appropriate for systems that meet individual town requirements. Homeowners get power from their system faster, and building officials are not tasked with approving the same solar design multiple times.”

Experience with SolarAPP to date is promising, with18 local jurisdictions having processed more than 7,500 permits. The process has saved those communities about 7,500 days of staff time, and permits were issued about 12 days sooner than with the traditional process, according to the town's news release.

For more information on the campaign and its partners, go to SolarAPPCampaign.org