Village of Tarrytown, NY Solar Roadmap

Initial Status: NYS Unified Solar Permit adopted by the Building Department in May 2015

Guidance: Village at best practice

Initial Status: Permit application forms are available online

Guidance: If a standard PV application form is adopted per goal [P1], make this 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: Typical permit turnaround time is about two weeks

Guidance: In a positive step, a recent code amendment removed ARB review for certain solar PV situations. 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: Valuation based fee structure with additional fixed cost for certificate of occupancy

Guidance: The permit fee for a typical residential system has a total cost of around $465. This is a bit high for residential systems; consider capping the permit fee portion at $250 or less.

Initial Status: Valuation based fee structure with additional fixed cost 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 1 to 2 weeks

Guidance: Consider performing inspection within 2 business days of request, especially for standard residential systems meeting certain qualifying criteria.

Initial Status: A 4 hour window is provided

Guidance: If contractor is required to be on site for inspection, consider a method for alerting contractor of the inspector's status, such as a phone call or text when the inspector is headed for the site.

Initial Status: Separate final inspections for structural and electrical

Guidance: Though 2 inspections are required, the electrical inspection is outside of Town jurisdiction. Only a single inspection is required by the Town.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist in use currently

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 on code approved residences meeting certain criteria, consider allowing an exemption from structural analysis or structural PE stamp requirements. This follows the guidance in the Unified Solar Permit, where an exemption from the PE letter is allowed if checklist questions #11-13 are satisfied and if the installation uses an engineered racking system.

Initial Status: Staff has adopted NY Unified Permit, is aware of solar-related code requirements.

Guidance: Village currently enforces the 2010 Residential Code of New York State and the 2008 National Electrical Code. Though a couple code cycles behind, building officials are knowledgeable on current solar standards. For ongoing education, see the links under the 'Take Action' button at right.

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: 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: Not aware of any energy goals in long term planning currently

Guidance: Village has done a great job supporting local solar efforts via the Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council. Consider making solar development an official goal of the Village by integrating solar development goals into long term planning documents.

Initial Status: Solar permitted by right in all zones. PV for roofs with 26 degree or less pitch no longer require ARB review.

Guidance: The Village recently simplified the process associated with the installation of solar panels on structures by eliminating the review and approval process by the Architectural Review Board subject to specific conditions.

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: Not offered in the Village currently

Guidance: Consider joining the Energy Improvement Corp for the purpose of promoting PACE financing for energy-related improvement. Learn more here: http://energizeny.org/eic

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: TEAC website is a great start for solar information. Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. Consider doing this by adding content to the TEAC website.

Initial Status: Environmental advocates are considering applying for the second round of Solarize

Action Taken: Village was selected in Round 2 of the Solarize Westchester campaign

Guidance: Solarize Tarrytown is a unique discount buying program that uses a tiered-pricing structure, town-supported education and outreach and one competitively selected installer to dramatically reduce the cost of solar. As of March 2016, more than 150 homeowners have requested information and site visits and two dozen have signed contracts for solar systems. Learn more here: http://www.solarizewestchester.com/solarize-tarrytown/

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: The Buyers Group is an aggregation effort to allow public sector building access to solar installations via power purchase agreements.

Initial Status: Village Hall has a roof mounted solar installation

Guidance: Village is considering additional installations at Warner Library and Department of Public works. The ASTI team can help evaluate the feasibility of additional municipal sites as desired.

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: Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council has solar information available

Guidance: Town has taken great strides via the TEAC website as well as promoting the Solarize campaign on the Village website.

Initial Status: Village is a member of Sustainable Westchester.