Town of Carbondale, CO

Initial Status: PV specific form, similar in form to general building app but with solar specific fee info

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

Initial Status: Permit application form online

Action Taken: PV permit application form is online.

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice

Initial Status: Typically in person submittal, email submittal informally available

Guidance: Allow electronic submittal of application.

Initial Status: Only one submittal required. Routing to other depts, if required, managed internally.

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

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice

Initial Status: Solar handout, avail online, includes fee info, required approvals, and required submittals. But no

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice for permit and fees information. Consider posting information on solar inspections.

Initial Status: Permit processing typically within 2 days, but no OTC Process

Guidance: Town currently at market 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: Flat fee $100

Action Taken: Permit fee for residential projects is a flat fee of $100.

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice

Initial Status: Flat fee $100

Action Taken: Permit fee for commercial projects is a flat fee of $100.

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice

Initial Status: Within 2 weeks

Guidance: Consider performing inspection within 5 business days of request for simple residential systems using the standard permit application form, if adopting standard form per goal [P1].

Initial Status: Called the day before, conducted after DORA electrical inspection

Guidance: For inspection schedule, specify AM/PM and consider providing an update at least 1 hr prior to arrival so contractor is aware and prepared. OR Contractor is not required to be on site.

Initial Status: Single inspection for roof mounts, two for ground mount

Guidance: For ground mount systems requiring a footing inspection, consider conducting pre-final inspections in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist currently utilized

Guidance: Consider using a standard regional PV inspection checklist, as a guide for field inspectors and for installers.

Initial Status: 2004 Energy and Climate Protection Plan includes solar recommendation

Guidance: Consider 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: Solar recommendations in 2004 Energy and Climate Protection Plan

Action Taken: Solar recommendations in 2004 Energy and Climate Protection Plan

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

Initial Status: Solar friendly zoning ordinances and regulations via REBP and Ch.18 of Municipal Code (zoning)

Action Taken: The Tow has solar friendly zoning ordinances and regulations.

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice. Consider additional language in section 6.7 and 9.1 of REBP allowing for subscription to a community solar array to meet the requirement.

Initial Status: No ordinances creating a barrier to solar

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

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice

Initial Status: Minimal awareness of finance options now

Guidance: Explore solar financing resources for your region and provide resources to increase visibility and understanding by residents. This goal aligns with Action Item 4.3 of 2004 Energy and Climate Protection Plan: "Actively encourage installation of renewable energy systems on private property through financing mechanisms and community campaign."

Initial Status: Some awareness of these tools now

Guidance: Consolidate and provide online tools for potential solar system buyers to evaluate and value solar projects for their homes and businesses.

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 currently exist

Action Taken: Carbondale recently released an RFP for solar procurement on several municipal properties.

Guidance: Town currently at best practice

Initial Status: SEI has previously offered training in town

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

Initial Status: No resources currently offered

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