Town of New Castle, NY Solar Roadmap

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: Permit application forms are available are online

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

Initial Status: Original, hard copies are currently required in person

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

Initial Status: Only a single submittal is required.

Initial Status: Permit process information including point-of-contact and fee schedule is available online

Initial Status: Permit turnaround normally takes 4-10 days residential, and more than 2 weeks for commercial

Guidance: Hastings offers a Solar Checklist to help guide customers through the permit process quickly. This is great start! Now consider ways to speed up turn around. Consider an expedited or over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using a standard application form, particularly if the NYS Unified Solar Permit Form is adopted per goal [P1].

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based at $15/$1000 plus a flat fee for certificate of occupancy and electric review

Guidance: The permit fee for a typical residential system would be around $375 for the building permit plus $35 for the certificate of occupancy and $90 for electrical. Total cost about $500. This is a bit high for residential systems; consider capping the permit fee portion at $250 or less.

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based at $20/$1000 plus a flat fee of $650 for certificate of occupancy

Guidance: Valuation based fee will become cost prohibitive for larger commercial systems. Consider basing the commercial permit fee on cost recovery, or if a flat fee is used keep the fee amount under $500.

Initial Status: Typical turnaround time from request to inspection is 3 to 5 days

Initial Status: A specific appointment time is provided

Initial Status: Preliminary inspection required after roof penetrations in addition to final inspection

Guidance: Consider conducting the preliminary inspection in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: Survey response indicated a checklist is in use, but did not see online. Need to verify.

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. Ideally this is a regional document.

Initial Status: A structural PE stamp is currently required for both residential and commercial systems.

Guidance: For qualifying residential systems meeting certain criteria, allow an exemption from structural analysis or structural PE stamp requirements. See examples of criteria used by other communities under the 'Take Action' button at right.

Initial Status: Current codes are the 2008 NEC and state codes based on the 2009 ICC

Guidance: Though the Village is on an older code cycle, officials seem knowledgeable on current solar standards. See the 'Take Action' button at right for additional resources for ongoing solar-related education for building officials.

Initial Status: State law allows for creation of solar easements and solar access provisions in local zoning code

Guidance: Consider creating local ordinances which would protect solar access by ensuring property remains shade-free and establishing a process for creating, registering, and enforcing solar easements.

Initial Status: Code encourages new streets to be oriented east-west to promote solar exposure

Guidance: The existing Code is a great start, though consider further measures to create solar ready homes. See examples under the 'Take Action' button at right of additional no- to low- cost measures that can make it easier to retrofit solar.

Initial Status: Unknown

Guidance: Explore implementing solar mandates for new construction for all buildings or a segment of the new building stock

Initial Status: Village does have energy goals in long term planning

Guidance: Both the Comprehensive Plan (2013-2014) and the Vision Plan Implementation Task Force (2004) include energy provisions. Consider including more solar specific goals in future updates; the Solar Roadmap team can help with model standards and language.

Initial Status: Solar is "as of right" in all zoning districts, though approval from Architectural Review Board is reqd

Initial Status: Unknown whether any such zones exist in Rye Brook

Initial Status: Unknown whether local HOAs have any restrictive policies. To be determined.

Guidance: Work with condo owner and homeowners associations to ensure that their covenant, conditions, and restrictions and bylaws do not create undue barriers to solar installations.

Initial Status: No rules in place supporting community solar for residential sector

Guidance: Support efforts to ensure state-level utility regulations allow community solar projects.

Initial Status: Local vendors offer 3rd party finance, and NYSERDA Green Jobs Green NY offers low interest loans

Guidance: Effective finance options are offered in the region.

Initial Status: Some awareness exists within the community currently

Guidance: Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. Consider doing this via an update to the existing webpage promoting the Solarize campaign, or by linking more visibly to the Village's participation in Sustainable Westchester which has many resources available.

Initial Status: Village has not participated in any such programs to date

Guidance: Solarize Westchester has selected the Village of Rye Brook to participate in a solar discount program that makes installing solar electric systems simpler and more affordable for their residents and businesses. The Solarize Rye Brook program launched with a workshop on October 22, 2015 at the Rye Brook Village Hall which was open to homeowners and commercial property owners. Learn more at http://www.ryebrook.org/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=31&TPID=15455

Initial Status: No such programs known to exist locally

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: Village joined the Municipal Solar Buyers Group

Guidance: Village currently at best practice. The Buyers Group is an aggregation effort to allow public sector building access to solar installations via power purchase agreements.

Initial Status: Not aware of solar at any Village properties currently, though see goal [M3] for current activity

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify solar feasibility at landfills, water treatment plants, or other municipal properties though the Solar Buyers Group. If there are additional properties that were not included in this RFP, the Solar Roadmap team can help by evaluating solar potential at these properties.

Initial Status: Unknown whether any such sites exist locally

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

Initial Status: Limited awareness of these resources locally

Guidance: Provide online access to regional and statewide solar standards and best practices as a resource to the installer community and organize an outreach and/or training event in order to generate awareness and understanding.

Initial Status: Village does promote the Solarize program on their website. See details under goal [M1].

Guidance: Village has taken great strides via participation in Sustainable Westchester and by promoting the local Solarize campaign.

Initial Status: Village is a member of Sustainable Westchester