The Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senators John McKeon and Linda Greenstein that would establish the “State Smart Solar Permitting Platform” to expedite the construction code approval process to install residential solar energy systems.
The bill, S-4100, would require the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish and administer the platform within one year of the bill’s date of enactment. This would enhance the ability of a local enforcing agency to review permit applications and permit revisions instantly for safety and code compliance. The bill was passed in a 39-0 vote.
“New Jersey families are leading the way in our transition to clean energy, with rooftop solar powering tens of thousands of homes and cutting costs and carbon emissions,” said Senator McKeon (D-Essex/Passaic). “It’s our job to help expedite this process. Through streamlining approvals, we can guarantee a greener New Jersey.”
The bill would require the State Smart Solar Permitting Platform to:
- Perform robust code compliance checks to evaluate proposed residential solar energy systems to determine whether they comply with the requirements of the State Uniform Construction Code
- Produce construction documents to be used for inspection and recordkeeping purposes under the code
- Instantly release a permit or permit revision to construct a residential solar energy system that complies with the code
- Be designed to process 75% of residential solar energy system permit applications submitted
- Be available for applicants to use 24 hours a day, except when the platform is down for an upgrade or maintenance
- Be provided to the department at no cost or low cost if provided by a third party
- Allow the use of electronic signatures on all applications and submitted materials necessary for the issuance of a permit
- Provide customer service for navigating the state platform
- Be able to process permit applications for residential solar energy systems and associated equipment
“Even when homeowners are ready to go solar, they can be held back by slow, inconsistent permitting processes that vary between localities,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “This bill cuts through that red tape by creating a more innovative approval system that will ensure a safer and smarter way to go solar.”
The bill would also require a local enforcing agency that implements an alternative platform to submit an annual report to the DCA that complies with departmental guidelines and provides information on the number of permit applications submitting through the automated platform and other means, as well as documentation showing that the alternative platform satisfies the requirements outlined in the bill.
