Village of Briarcliff Manor, 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. The State of New York has a Unified Solar Permit used for this purpose.

Initial Status: Permit application forms, including new solar permit, are online

Guidance: Village currently at best practice

Initial Status: Application forms are required to be submitted in person.

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

Initial Status: Only a single submittal is required.

Guidance: Village currently at best practice

Initial Status: Permit process and inspection info including point-of-contact and fees is available online

Guidance: Village currently at best practice

Initial Status: Processing time in unavailable at this time. Adoption of solar permit is in process.

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: Residential permit fee is valuation based and typically >$500

Guidance: Base residential permit fees on cost recovery, or if a flat fee is used keep the fee amount under $250.

Initial Status: Commercial permit fee is valuation based and typically >$500.

Guidance: Base commercial permit fees on cost recovery, or if a flat fee is used keep the fee amount under $500.

Initial Status: Uknown at this time.

Guidance: Perform inspection within 2 business days of request.

Initial Status: Uknown at this time.

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: Electrical final, structural final. Commercial also requires pre-installation inspection of roof penetrations

Guidance: Consider requiring a single permit inspection for known installers, or conducting pre-final inspections in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: Inspection checklist currently in use.

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: Structural PE stamp currently required for commercial and residential.

Guidance: For qualifying residential systems meeting certain criteria, allow an exemption from structural analysis or structural PE stamp requirements.

Initial Status: Current code requirements are the Residential Code of New York State, 2010 edition and the National Fire Protective Association (NFPA-70) National Electrical Code 2008 Edition

Guidance: Village currently at best practice. The 'Take Action' button at right contains 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. In addition, local zoning codes further protects solar installation.

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

Initial Status: No solar ready standards in place currently

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

Initial Status: Unknown

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

Initial Status: There are no solar priorities in long term planning documents.

Guidance: Include solar development goals in long term planning documents.

Initial Status: The zoning codes have rules specifically regarding solar installations.

Guidance: Village currently at best practice

Initial Status: No information is available at this time.

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: Information is unavailable at this time.

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: There is no published information on existing solar finance options and tools in the community.

Guidance: Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. Consider doing this via an update to the Village website, possibly via the current page for the Sustainability Committee. See related suggestion under Roadmap Goal [M8].

Initial Status: Village participating in Solarize Westhester program to support community wide PV adoption.

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: Consider utilizing the Municipal Solar Buyers Group from Sustainable Westchester to conduct solar evaluation and cost effective procurement on government facilities, including municipal buildings and schools, to demonstrate leadership and reduce energy costs while strengthening the economy and environment.

Initial Status: There is a solar installation on a school.

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify solar feasibility at landfills, water treatment plants, or other municipal properties. Consider working with other local agencies on a collaborative procurement to reduce costs per goal [M3]. The Solar Roadmap team can help by evaluating solar potential at Briarcliff Manor 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: There are no solar educational resources available to the community.

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

Initial Status: Village is a member of Sustainable Westchester.