Alpine County, CA

Initial Status: County has adopted standard, solar-specific submittal materials

Guidance: The County has a standardized permit process for roof or pole mounted PV energy systems under 10kW. This process leverages fillable forms similar to the SolarABCs model template.

Initial Status: The permit forms are readily accessible on the County website

Guidance: http://alpinecountyca.gov/index.aspx?nid=157

Initial Status: Applications may be submitted via email, mail, or in person

Initial Status: Only a single comprehensive submittal is required

Initial Status: A process description, point-of-contact, and other relevant info is provided online

Guidance: Most of the relevant forms can be found here: http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/DocumentCenter/Index/19

Initial Status: Survey response indicates normal turnaround times of 2 to 3 weeks

Guidance: Consider instituting a policy to review and issue/deny permit within 3 days (residential) or 5 days (commercial) of submittal. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW. The Solar Expedited Permit Process form on the County website indicates most applications are reviewed in 1-2 days, so this timeline may already be met in practice.

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based with no cap

Guidance: Per AB 1801 and SB 1222 requirements for solar permit fees, permit fee for residential systems should be based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $500 for systems under 15 kW. Larger systems can be $15 per kW over 15 kW. Fee cannot be based on open-ended valuation based fee structure.

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based with no cap

Guidance: Per AB 1801 and SB 1222 requirements for solar permit fees, permit fee for commercial systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $1,000 for systems under 50 kW, plus $7 for every kW between 51 kW and 250 kW, plus $5 for every kW over 250 kW. Fee cannot be based on open-ended valuation based fee structure.

Initial Status: Inspections performed within 2 business days of request

Initial Status: Per the survey form, the window of time given to installers is greater than 1 day.

Guidance: Provide the installer with a specific time or time window less than 2hrs for onsite inspection. Utilize phone and/or email to provide info on anticipated inspection time. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: A preliminary roof inspection is required in addition to the final inspection

Guidance: Require only a single, final inspection visit. Coordinate inspection among various agencies or schedule multiple agency inspections for the same time. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW. If preliminary inspections are required, considering conducting these in a manner that does not require the installer to halt work.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist is currently in use.

Guidance: Use a standard checklist for PV field inspections that is available to applicants prior to inspection. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: No PE approvals are required for standard residential systems

Initial Status: County enforces recent code versions and officials seem knowledgeable on solar

Guidance: Make sure building officials are up-to-date on the latest changes to the 2013 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Energy, and Fire Codes that apply to Solar PV installations. Some useful resources are available in the 'Take Action' button.

Initial Status: State laws provide limited protection for solar rights and solar access, but no local ordinance

Guidance: Solar rights are protected by state legislation. Consider creating local ordinances that exceed the CA Solar Rights Act and Solar Shade Control Act, which would protect property owners' right to install solar and ensure their property has unobstructed access to direct sunlight.

Initial Status: Statewide solar ready requirements for new residential construction (CA Title 24), nothing local

Guidance: Consider creating a municipal ordinance which would require new homes and buildings to be built solar-ready that goes beyond California's "solar zones" mandate in the 2013 CA Energy Code (§110.10). Sample standards include a solar zone on roof, pre-installed conduits, space for inverter, spare breaker space in electrical panel for solar interconnection.

Initial Status: The 2016 Energy Action Plan promotes solar goals

Guidance: In December 2016, Alpine County accepted the Energy Action Plan (EAP) developed by Sierra Business Council as the county’s roadmap for achieving county-wide energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as the associated cost-savings from these efforts. http://alpinecountyca.gov/index.aspx?nid=465

Initial Status: No solar specific provisions, though existing rules do not seem to restrict solar unnecessarily

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar. CA Solar Rights Act requires that local governments use an administrative, non-discretionary review process for on-site solar energy systems.

Initial Status: County is not sure whether any local developments have restrictive practices

Guidance: Private solar covenants are restricted by state legislation. Work with condo owner and homeowners associations to ensure that their covenant, conditions, and restrictions and bylaws do not create undue barriers to solar installations. HOA convenents cannot increase the cost of solar systems by more than $1,000, and cannot decrease the efficiency of systems by more than 10%. HOA must approve or deny plan within 45 days.

Initial Status: County has adopted a streamlined permit process similar to that recommended by AB2188

Initial Status: Some awareness exists within the region, but not as visible as in other parts of the state

Guidance: Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. This can be done most easily by providing links and information online. See examples under the 'Take Action' button.

Initial Status: Some ground work has been done to understand solar potential of municipal properties

Guidance: Consider collaborating with agencies across the region to aggregate government facilities, including municipal buildings and schools, for solar evaluation and cost-effective procurement to demonstrate leadership and reduce energy costs while strengthening the economy and environment. The Solar Roadmap team can provide guidance on this type of procurement and help to launch a regional group.

Initial Status: No known solar projects at these sites currently

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify solar feasibility at landfills, water treatment plants, or other municipal properties. Consider working with other local agencies on a collaborative procurement to reduce costs per goal [M3]. The Solar Roadmap team can help by evaluating solar potential at County properties.

Initial Status: Some awareness exists within the region, but not as visible as in other parts of the state

Guidance: Help promote the availability of online tools and resources for the residential, commercial, and municipal solar markets through existing networks. Find sample resources under the 'Take Action' button. See related goal [F7].