City of Rifle, CO

Initial Status: No standard form for solar PV projects, general building permit form used

Guidance: Consider adopting a standard application form specific to solar PV for qualifying projects <10kW.

Initial Status: Standard building permit form available online, though no solar specific form currently exists

Guidance: If standardized form is adopted for PV (per objective P1), this form should be available online. Suggested URL is on the City website at the Home > Departments > Building Department > Permit Applications page.

Initial Status: Email submittal is available

Action Taken: Electronic submittal of permit documents is available.

Guidance: City currently at best practice

Initial Status: Single submittal required

Action Taken: Single permit application submittal is available for residents and installers.

Guidance: City currently at best practice

Initial Status: Not enough info available for permit, fees, and inspections available online

Guidance: Post information on the solar permitting and inspection process online in an easily accessible location. This should include the process steps, timelines, fees, point of contact, and any other pertinent information.

Initial Status: Typically within 3 business days, but not OTC process

Guidance: City currently at best practice for permit processing. Consider an expedited or over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using a standard application form (see goal P1).

Initial Status: Building permit fee based on valuation, plan review fee 65% of building fee. Capped at $500.

Guidance: City currently in compliance with state law which caps permit fees at $500. Consider a reduced permit fee based on cost recovery for simple residential projects using the standard permit form per goal [P1].

Initial Status: Building permit fee based on valuation, plan review fee 65% of building fee. Capped at $1,000.

Action Taken: Permit fee for commpercial PV projects is valuation based.

Guidance: City currently in compliance with state law which caps permit fees at $1000. Consider a reduced permit fee based on cost recovery for simple commercial projects using the standard permit form per goal [P1].

Initial Status: Within 2 business days

Action Taken: Inspection is performed within 48 hours of request.

Guidance: City currently at best practice

Initial Status: Specific appointment made

Action Taken: Specific inspection time is given to the installer.

Guidance: City currently at best practice

Initial Status: Normally 2 inspections required: structural initial, and structural/building final.

Guidance: If structural inspection is to be done separately, installer can request the inspection after racking install is complete but does not have to halt work and wait for inspection; module placement can commence.

Initial Status: Currently on 2009 ICC codes

Guidance: Be aware of and consider accepting new solar standards from most recent code cycles

Initial Status: No solar specific ordinaces for construction

Guidance: Explore creation of municipal ordinances which require new homes and buildings to be built solar-ready

Initial Status: No solar specific mandates for new construction

Guidance: Explore implementing solar mandates for new construction for all buildings or a segment of the new building stock

Initial Status: General plan update just completed, no solar specific provisions.

Guidance: Include solar development goals in long term planning documents.

Initial Status: Solar not specifically addressed. Allowed by right on all rooftops, nothing precludes.

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations, such as setbacks, height limits and lot use provisions, do not restrict property owners' ability to install solar.

Initial Status: No ordinances creating a barrier to solar

Action Taken: The City does not have ordinances which create a barrier to solar.

Guidance: City currently at best practice

Initial Status: Minimal awareness of finance options now

Guidance: Help create awareness of regional solar finance options and resources among key City stakeholders to increase customer understanding and use. This awareness could be generated through the City website or via existing channels such as periodic conferences, meetings, or newsletters.

Initial Status: Minimal awareness of these tools now

Guidance: Help market the availability of on-line tools to help potential solar system buyers in the region evaluate and value solar projects for their homes, businesses and government facilities. This could be accomplished through the City website or via existing channels such as periodic conferences, meetings, or newsletters. The PV Value tool (available in resources at right) will be particularly useful for local appraisers who are currently misvaluing PV systems.

Initial Status: No similar aggregations known to exist locally

Guidance: Support the establishment of a working group of community leaders and financing providers to evaluate aggregated purchasing options for residential solar based on successful case studies.

Initial Status: No similar aggregations known to exist locally

Guidance: Support the establishment of a working group of businesses and property owners to aggregate their facilities and buying power for solar evaluation and procurement to decrease energy costs while demonstrating their leadership.

Initial Status: No similar aggregations known to exist locally

Action Taken: PPA being pursued on 12 different sites for a total of 650kW around Rifle

Guidance: City currently at best practice

Initial Status: CMC Rifle has a solar course

Action Taken: Solar industry training is available.

Guidance: Help market the availability of online tools and resources for the solar installer community and assist in organizing an outreach/training event to generate awareness and understanding.

Initial Status: Minimal level of information currently available locally

Guidance: Help market the availability of online tools and resources for the residential and commercial consumer market and assist in organizing an outreach/training event to generate awareness and understanding across the community.