Town of Pahrump, NV

Initial Status: There is a standard building permit application form, but nothing specific to PV currently.

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

Initial Status: General building permit application form is not online.

Guidance: If a standard PV application form is adopted per goal [P1], make the form available online in an easily accessible location.

Initial Status: Submittals accepted in person, mail or fax.

Guidance: Allow email submittal of permit application forms for qualifying projects.

Initial Status: 1 submittal

Guidance: Town currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Incomplete process information 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: Within 10 business days residential, 15 business days commercial

Guidance: Consider an expedited or over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using a standard application form (see goal P1). For all projects, issue or deny permit within 3 business days of submittal for residential and within 5 business days for commercial.

Initial Status: Rediential permit fee is assessed via cost recovery.

Guidance: Town currently at market best practice.

Initial Status: Commercial permit fee is assessed via cost recvoery method.

Guidance: Town currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Inspection turnaround time is 10 days residential, 15 days commercial.

Guidance: Perform inspection within 2 business days of request.

Initial Status: 2 hour appointment window

Guidance: Town currently at best practice.

Initial Status: 3 permit inspections

Guidance: Require only a single permit inspection. If additional inspections are required during installation, conduct in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: Current knowledge level of staff regarding recent solar standards unknown.

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

Initial Status: No local laws to protect solar rights and access.

Guidance: Create local ordinances which would protect property owners' right to install solar and ensure their property has unobstructed access to direct sunlight.

Initial Status: Solar-friendly standards for new construction.

Guidance: Town currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Solar development is not addressed in planning documents.

Guidance: Include solar development goals in long term planning documents

Initial Status: Solar friendly zoning ordinances.

Guidance: Town currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Zoning code for historic and viewshed areas does not specifically address solar.

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations in aesthetically sensitive areas do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar. Allow staff members to review and approve applications when possible rather than requiring committee or planning commission review.

Initial Status: No current local solar loan program.

Guidance: Encourage local financial institutions to establish loan programs for solar energy systems.

Initial Status: City does not currently provide information on solar finance and evaluation tools.

Guidance: Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. This can be done via webinars, marketing materials, or by providing links and information online.

Initial Status: No current residential solar procurement program.

Guidance: Establish a working group of community leaders and financing providers to evaluate aggregated purchasing options for residential solar based on successful case studies (see associated objective for additional details.)

Initial Status: No current commercial solar procurement program.

Guidance: Establish a working group of businesses and commercial property owners to leverage their solar purchasing power by aggregating facilities for solar evaluation and procurement to reduce energy costs while demonstrating community leadership.

Initial Status: No known solar projects at these sites currently.

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify solar feasibility at municipal landfill and water treatment sites.

Initial Status: Limited awareness of these tools and resources locally.

Guidance: Provide online access to training programs and resources for the installer community and potential workforce and organize an outreach and/or training event in order to generate awareness and understanding.

Initial Status: No event or online resources

Guidance: Consolidate solar resources and best practices, provide online as a resource to the consumer market (residential and commercial), and organize an outreach/training event to generate awareness and understanding across the community (see associated objective for additional details and supporting resources).