In each Solar Report newsletter, we feature one of our highly regarded Platinum Business Members with an exclusive interview. This month, TXSES Communications Director Tamara Kowalski reached out to new Platinum Business Members SolarAPP Foundation and Head of Marketing Amanda Brodbaek to learn about the company’s history, mission, accomplishments, and impacts on customers.
Please tell us about the SolarAPP Foundation’s beginnings.
SolarAPP+ (Automated Permit Processing) is the only permitting platform that was developed in full collaboration with local building officials and inspectors, standards development organizations, and solar installers. Initially funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and managed by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), SolarAPP+ is now managed by the SolarAPP Foundation, an independent non-profit organization.
Developed out of the need to address the significant challenge that slow, varied, and time and labor-intensive local solar permitting process created, SolarAPP+ was created from a true collaboration of solar industry experts. Working together, federal and local governments, solar industry installers and stakeholders, along with code and safety organizations all worked together to create a solution to the permitting issues they faced. That solution was SolarAPP+, a software tool that automates the review of residential and energy storage systems to ensure compliance with building, fire and electrical codes in tandem with local considerations.
What is the SolarAPP Foundation’s mission?
The SolarAPP Foundation is committed to reducing the soft costs associated with the clean energy transition, making energy independence more accessible and affordable for everyone.
What is the SolarAPP Foundation’s approach to projects?
Made by the government and managed by an independent non-profit, SolarAPP+ was created to be free for local governments to automate permitting for clean energy technologies. Licensed installers input system information into an online platform that is available 24/7, and consistent across jurisdictions to secure an approved permit in minutes.
What do you consider to be the Foundation’s biggest accomplishments?
Expanding SolarApp’s offering across the country, proving that the code-compliant, automated plan review of residential solar and energy storage projects meets the needs of jurisdictions across varying geographies and without compromising safety standards or local requirements.
What surprises have you encountered when entering the solar industry?
Despite how clean energy is often portrayed, we have learned that at the local level, solar power is a bipartisan issue. Homeowners want to have a say in what they put on the roofs they own and look to local government to make it easy for them to have options when it comes to powering their own homes and having access to stored energy in the event of a grid failure.
What has been the biggest hurdle faced by the SolarAPP Foundation?
Initially, demonstrating to jurisdictions how the software tool can easily integrate into whatever platform they use and removes the burden of standard permit plan review from their teams. Now in use in over 320 jurisdictions across 17 states, our next hurdle is continuing to expand our reach to more jurisdictions and installers, so as to reduce the soft costs associated with clean energy so as to make energy independence for homeowners cheaper than ever.
Are there any unique contributions or particular initiatives by the SolarAPP Foundation that you’d like to share?
The SolarAPP Foundation is uniquely positioned to benefit all those involved. Jurisdictions benefit from staff time saved and compliant plan review, installers benefit from a consistent platform and instant permits, while homeowners benefit from reduced costs and streamlined system installation. And as a non-profit organization, SolarAPP is committed to continuing to keep its product line growing to make a bigger impact over bigger revenues.
What does the future hold for the Foundation?
In addition to expanding geographically across the U.S., the SolarAPP Foundation recently secured a $3.99M grant to build upon clean energy permitting and inspection tools. This will include expanding its digital permitting services to residential electric vehicle charging and to build AI-supported, code-compliant virtual inspection tools that allow jurisdictions to conduct remote, asynchronous inspections is a major expansion.
Why were you interested in joining TXSES?
As SolarAPP continues to be implemented across Texas, we have seen firsthand the impact SolarAPP+ can make and support the work that TXSES is doing to educate Texans about the benefits of clean energy. We hope that by building on the awareness of SolarAPP+ to TXSES supporters, we will be able to expand the impact of the work we are doing to more jurisdictions and installers across the state.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Texas installers can already benefit from SolarAPP+ in Houston, Irving, Tool and Waco and can register for free at gosolarapp.org. If you would like SolarAPP+ to be available in the cities where you live and work, let your jurisdictions know that it’s free to implement, through a guided process with 1:1 support.