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U.S. seeks to speed rooftop solar growth with instant permits:
The Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+) platform, developed by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will be an optional portal for local governments to process permit applications automatically.
Approvals typically take a week or more currently, and permit-related costs can account for about a third of installers' overall costs, DOE said. The software speeds the process up by standardizing requirements, streamlining the application and automating some approvals.
Administration officials said the software will help speed adoption of rooftop solar and achieve President Joe Biden's goal of decarbonizing the U.S. electricity grid by 2035, a key pillar of his plan to address climate change. DOE has said that solar energy will need to be installed at a pace as much as five times faster than it is today to realize that goal.
[...] The portal performs an automatic review of permit applications, approving eligible systems instantly. Complex or ineligible systems are re-routed for additional review.
Local governments will not have to pay for the portal, DOE said. DOE is challenging 125 mayors and local officials to sign up for the SolarAPP tool before the end of the summer.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Wednesday July 21 2021, @12:18PM (8 children)
Yes, because 500kg of flat panels spread over 25sqm of roof and with identical electricals is the same as building different homes/bridges/aso on various terrains and climates. No need to check the structural designs or the materials to be used. After all, we can afford condos go down with people inside after 25 years, Florida is a worthy example to follow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday July 21 2021, @12:42PM (3 children)
Note the use of the phrases, "routine construction and other such processes" and "similar permitting costs". So not the same, but similar enough that a lot of permitting can be automated. Or are you against cheaper homes/bridges/aso with the same quality and regulation?
Because Florida has been using this streamlined process to regulate its condo building for the last 25 years? Pull my other finger.
Funny how you object to even common sense efforts to improve regulation and making it less costly for us all.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday July 21 2021, @01:07PM (2 children)
Better check that the "routine construction" is actually something that exists and not a fictional concept.
Funny how you think that price should trump safety and suggest building engineering is regulation just for the sake of regulation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0, Offtopic) by khallow on Wednesday July 21 2021, @05:39PM (1 child)
I300k [seia.org] PV installations per year counts as routine construction.
What makes the old approach safer? My take is that a lot of these regulations backfire, either by creating distractions or opportunities for corruption.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 21 2021, @07:15PM
Simple solution, have local taxes pay for the engineers to inspect projects for free. If safety is the goal then the community should make it as easy as possible without monetary barriers.
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Wednesday July 21 2021, @12:49PM (2 children)
How about allowing you to do with your house whatever you please as long as you only endanger yourself and your own family, and if your house comes down becasue you're too stupid to do it right, sucks to be you?
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday July 21 2021, @01:09PM
Are you sure you wanted to reply to the comment you actually replied?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by slinches on Wednesday July 21 2021, @09:00PM
In most places in the US you can do pretty much anything you want with your own property within the zoning limits (or HOA CC&Rs). However, if there's work done on your home without permits or inspections for work that requires it, that can cause complications if you want to sell it later. There are also some jurisdictions that aggressively cite homeowners for unpermitted work, so YMMV. However if you really want to have the freedom to do what you want with only the most minimal restrictions, buy some property in a remote unincorporated area in the western US.
(Score: 2) by richtopia on Wednesday July 21 2021, @06:25PM
That is pretty much what happened with my solar install. I dislike suburban track housing, but one advantage is the houses are all built similarly. My 1998 house uses standard trusses and according to building codes of the time the roof is equipped to handle the panel weight. My solar installer poked his head in the attic with a flashlight as a sanity check, but otherwise the install was turn-key.