Standardized Process Makes Permitting Residential Photovoltaic Systems Easy

Las Cruces, NM – November 16, 2011 – The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) has released a newly revised report that presents recommendations for local jurisdictions to use for expediting the permit process for small-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems. Homeowners, builders, and local jurisdictions often encounter a long and costly process for permitting residential (small-scale) PV systems and this revised report provides the background and approach for creating a standardized permitting process to save money and time. The Solar ABCs revised report entitled, Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems – A Standardized Process for the Review of Small-Scale PV Systems, includes new information for micro-inverters and AC modules as well as several new diagrams and calculations. The report also includes updated ASHRAE weather data to complement an online interactive map of the U.S. for ASHRAE weather data. This data is needed for voltage calculations of PV arrays and ampacity calculations of conductors. Read the revised report.

"This report describes a process that has advantages throughout the permitting cycle," said Mr. Larry Sherwood, Project Administrator, Solar ABCs, "and the revisions in this report were created to continue to meet the needs of the growing, small-scale PV market in the U.S. and is also applicable to local jurisdictions nationwide."

The intent of the expedited process is to efficiently meet the engineering requirements by recognizing the similarities among these small-scale PV systems and establishing guidelines to determine when a PV project is within the boundaries of typical, well-engineered systems.

Also available is an easy to use one-page permit form, which was devised to outline the process and define what qualifies for expedited permitting. An explanatory document accompanies the form so that contractors and local jurisdictions using the form have a description of how to provide the required information. The recommendation of this report is that local jurisdictions use this nationally standardized expedited permit process for awarding building permits to installers of small-scale PV systems. Download the report and one-page permit form.

About Solar ABCs
The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) is a collaborative effort among experts to formally gather and prioritize input from the broad spectrum of solar photovoltaic stakeholders including policy makers, manufacturers, installers, and consumers resulting in coordinated recommendations to codes and standards making bodies for existing and new solar technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy funds Solar ABCs as part of its commitment to facilitate widespread adoption of safe, reliable, and cost-effective solar technologies.

For more information, visit www.solarabcs.org
Media contact:  Mr. Larry Sherwood, 303-413-8028
larry@sherwoodassociates.com

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