Municipalities Can Win $15,000 by Updating Solar Permitting Processes

The U.S. Department of Energy just launched a prize to accelerate adoption of SolarAPP+ by local jurisdictions. SolarAPP+ is an online platform, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), that instantly issues permits for code-compliant residential PV systems. While SolarAPP+ is free for communities to adopt, there are associated costs that arise during the implementation process. The SolarAPP+ Prize was created to ease the burden of these costs for communities and to accelerate the adoption of SolarAPP+.

The prize consists of a simple, two-step competition: application and implementation. To apply, local jurisdictions complete a questionnaire and upload a letter of support by November 4, 2022 to demonstrate a desire to pilot SolarAPP+. Communities that are selected in Step 1 will then be eligible to compete in Step 2 and submit proof of a SolarAPP+ pilot by April 27, 2023 to receive the $15,000 cash prize.

Communities that adopt the SolarAPP+ tool will be well on their way to earning recognition in Solsmart, a national program designed to help local governments encourage solar investment by improving policies and practices. If you are interested in earning a Solsmart designation for your community, please contact jprice@sustainablepittsburgh.org.