Salt Lake City, UT Solar Roadmap

Initial Status: Standard PV application is available.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permit application form is available online.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: PV permit application can be submitted electronically.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: 1 submittal

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permit and inspection information and fee schedules are online.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: At least 3-5 days residential, 5-7 days commercial

Initial Status: Residential permit fee is valuation-based; plan check fee additional if necessary.

Guidance: Permit fee for residential systems is a flat fee less than $500, or based on cost recovery.

Initial Status: Turnaround time is not tracked

Guidance: Track permit turnaround time.

Initial Status: Commercial permit fee is valuation-based.

Guidance: Base commercial permit fees on cost recovery, or if a flat fee is used keep the fee amount under $1000.

Initial Status: Expedited permit approval is not available

Guidance: Consider an expedited or over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using the standard application form (if adopting standard form per goal [P1]). These expedited approvals would require the contractor to make an appointment.

Initial Status: Within 2 business days.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Fee information is not available online

Guidance: Provide permit fee information for residential and commercial projects online in an easily accessible location. Solar PV specific information could be added to the 'Building Permits' section of the City website.

Initial Status: No inspection time given.

Guidance: Provide an appointment window of 2 hours or less if possible. Provide real time updates prior to arrival so contractor is aware and prepared.

Initial Status: 1 permit inspection

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: A standard inspection checklist for PV systems is not currently used.

Guidance: Utilize a standard inspection checklist for PV systems. The checklist serves as a guide for inspectors and installers containing points of emphasis and common issues.

Initial Status: Phone number provided for scheduling inspections

Guidance: Provide inspection information including sample PV inspection checklist online.

Initial Status: Currently on 2012 IBC and 2011 NEC.

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

Initial Status: No solar guidelines

Guidance: Awareness of recent solar installation guidelines for fire department review as outlined in the 2012 National Fire Code.

Initial Status: Solar rights protected at state level, but no existing local ordinances.

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: No local solar ready ordinances for new construction.

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

Initial Status: Solar development is included in long-term planning documents.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Solar is not addressed in zoning ordinances

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: 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 ordinances creating a barrier to solar

Guidance: City currently at market best practice.

Initial Status: No state-level PACE financing program.

Guidance: Support efforts to develop state-level legislation enabling local PACE programs.

Initial Status: No local PACE financing program in place.

Guidance: Establish a working group to evaluate the potential of a PACE financing program for clean energy upgrades in your jurisdiction based on national examples by local municipalities.

Initial Status: No current local solar loan program.

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

Initial Status: Limited awareness of and access to these tools currently.

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 collaborative solar procurement program.

Guidance: Support the creation of a working group of community leaders and funding providers. This group would evaluate options and determine the most viable approach for aggregating residential solar based on best practices to date.

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: No known solar projects at these sites currently.

Guidance: Establish a working group to explore solar development options across the state, following the best practices and case studies provided. Share information with market stakeholders.

Initial Status: No solar workforce development resources and industry training tools currently.

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: Limited solar educational resouces for constituents

Guidance: Help promote the availability of online tools and resources for the residential, commercial, and municipal solar markets through existing networks.

Initial Status: Limited awareness of these resources locally.

Guidance: Help promote the availability of innovative market development tools for the residential, commercial, and municipal solar markets through existing networks.

Initial Status: Not participating in any such programs currently.

Guidance: Establish a working group to explore options for setting clean energy goals for the community, including setting renewable energy development goals in long term planning documents or joining programs designed to encourage, support, and provide recognition for clean energy action.