Austin, TX – Tool, Texas and Waco, Texas have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory as one of 12 communities nationwide to adopt the innovative solar permitting platform SolarAPP+. Through the program, Tool and Waco are eligible to receive $15,000 if SolarAPP+ is adopted successfully.
“We’re excited to see NREL’s announcement and the fact that residential solar is receiving its time in the spotlight here in the cities of Tool and Waco,” said Patrice Parsons, Executive Director of Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES). “Texas is a leader in the burgeoning residential solar industry, and this platform will make it easier for local governments to slash red tape and remove another barrier for Texans to access clean, affordable and resilient energy. This latest development underscores all the hard work that TXSES and our partners continue to do.”
SolarAPP+ is an online platform that instantly issues permits for code-compliant residential rooftop photovoltaic (PV) and battery systems. As many consumers and local jurisdictions know, permitting can often slow the process for residential solar and battery installations. Current permitting delays are estimated to increase solar cost by $7,000 per project. With the convergence of increased consumer interest in solar installation and federal legislative momentum, clearing this potential bottleneck of long review timelines and complicated permitting applications is imperative. SolarAPP+ provides local governments, installers and homeowners with a streamlined process to more quickly achieve clean power generation from the sun.
SolarAPP+ has already approved more than 10,000 permits across jurisdictions, including successful programs in Arizona, California, Illinois and Texas. Earlier this year, Houston announced a Solar APP+ pilot program. Since SolarAPP+ provides an immediate permit for those communities vetted and determined to be eligible, projects have been installed about two weeks faster under the program.
“In cities like Tool and Waco and across the state, TXSES continues to work tirelessly to ensure programs like SolarAPP+ and others are helping both new and existing solar customers reap benefits from their rooftop PV systems,” said Parsons.
About The Texas Solar Energy Society
For more than four decades, TXSES has been the pre-eminent statewide non-profit organization developing free, fact-based information and quality educational materials that inspire innovation, share best practices and inform decision-makers on the critical importance of sound, favorable solar policies that will grow the industry equitably, build healthy, resilient communities, support local, well-paying jobs and lay the foundation for energy independence. A membership-based organization, TXSES’s unique niche is its well-established local chapters in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio. www.txses.org