City of San Joaquin, CA

Initial Status: General building permit used for all projects

Action Taken: Awaiting approval by CIty Council.

Guidance: Consider adopting a standard permit application form specific to solar electric (PV) for qualifying projects less than 10kW.

Initial Status: No permit application form online

Action Taken: City doesn't currently have a web presence for the Buildings Department.

Guidance: As the city's website is developed further, consider making the PV permit application form available online.

Initial Status: No electronic submittal available

Guidance: Consider allowing for electronic (online or email) submittal of permit application package for qualifying solar projects under 10kW, since California now allows an electronic seal in place of a wet stamp.

Initial Status: 1 submittal

Guidance: City is currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Incomplete process information online.

Action Taken: Intend to upload a 'how to' for the permit application form.

Guidance: Provide clear written instructions on permitting and inspection processes along with a checklist of required application materials. Also, provide information on permit fee schedule, along with any rebates and incentives. Ideally, there is easy access from a primary menu page.

Initial Status: 2-3 business days residential, 14 days for commercial

Guidance: City is currently at best practice for residential. Consider options for reducing commercial permit review and approval to fall within 5 business days.

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based

Action Taken: Expressed willingness to consider moving towards a flat fee or to a fee based on cost recovery

Guidance: Permit fee for residential systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $500 for systems <15 kW. Larger systems can be $15 for every kilowatt (kW) over 15 kW. Open-ended valuation based fee structures are inconsistent with State law.

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based

Guidance: Permit fee for commercial systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $1,000 for systems <50 kW, plus $7 for every kW between 51 kW and 250 kW, plus $5 for every kW over 250 kW. Open-ended valuation based fee structures are inconsistent with State law

Initial Status: 1 business day

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: 4 hour appointment window

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: 4 inspections

Action Taken: Will look into cutting down # of inspections

Guidance: Require a single, final permit inspection. OR Conduct pre-final inspections in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist currently utilized.

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: Accept solar standards from most recent code cycles

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No solar friendly standards for new construction

Action Taken: Will look into for next update but not by Feb 14

Guidance: As part of General Plan update, consider adoption of solar specific language, such as standards for new construction and solar access. See examples and model language associated with this objective.

Initial Status: Solar friendly zoning ordinances and regulations

Guidance: Consider adoption of zoning codes that have solar specific guidance and adoption of solar friendly design review standards. See examples and model language associated with this objective.

Initial Status: No ordinances creating a barrier to solar

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: City is in the process of exploring finance program options

Action Taken: Will do once website is up

Guidance: Continue to explore host of solar loan and financing resources (e.g. Residential and commercial PACE, GRID Alternatives, contractor-specific financing packages, etc.) for your region and publicize these resources to residents and business through appropriate municipal channels (e.g. online; in-person; print; etc).

Initial Status: City is in the process of investigating other finance tools

Action Taken: Will do once website is up

Guidance: Continue to develop a municipal revolving energy efficiency fund and consider extending this to allow for solar. Explore solar financing tools for your region and provide resources to increase visibility and understanding by residents. See objective for 1 or more examples associated with this objective.

Initial Status: No working group

Action Taken: Plan to call into February 6 workshop

Guidance: Support the development of 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 working group

Action Taken: Plan to call into February 6 workshop

Guidance: Support the development 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 (see associated objective for additional details).

Initial Status: Partners with GRID Alternatives to offer trainings.

Action Taken: Will accomplish by uploading local/ regional solar resources

Guidance: Consolidate regional and statewide standards and best practices, provide online as a resource to the installer community, and organize an outreach/training event to generate awareness and understanding (see associated objective for additional details and supporting resources).

Initial Status: City has engaged in a series of green/sustainable community

Action Taken: Will accomplish by uploading local/ regional solar resources

Guidance: Consider avenues to promote/ augment City's "cookbook" of bi-lingual sustainability community outreach programs and strategies, and leverage this for solar-related education and awareness building. Provide these online as a resource to the consumer market (residential and commercial), and organize outreach/training events to generate awareness and understanding across the community (see associated objective for additional details and supporting resources).