Through programs like its eSolar program and solar dashboard, Montgomery County has simplified solar permitting and encouraged the use of inexpensive solar energy, making it the first local government in Maryland to get a SolSmart Platinum award.
Montgomery County is the first local government in Maryland to get a SolSmart Platinum accreditation, the highest honor given, for promoting the expansion of reasonably priced solar energy sources locally, according to the press release. Montgomery County received a SolSmart Gold rating in 2020.
A nationwide group called SolSmart assists organizations and local governments in becoming pioneers in solar energy.
The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) developed an online permitting checklist, introduced the new eSolar program for residential rooftops, trained staff on best practices for permitting solar energy and solar-plus storage systems, and unveiled a new solar dashboard to report the number of residential solar installations and average permitting and inspection turnaround times in order to earn the recent SolSmart Platinum designation.
According to County Executive Marc Elrich, “this recognition demonstrates that the work we’ve done to remove the barriers that slow down solar adoption is paying off.” Permitting should be predictable, and the DPS eSolar program makes it easier for locals to switch to solar by issuing permits the same day. I hope this designation inspires even more individuals to convert to sustainable energy, and I appreciate the efforts our Permitting Services team has made to speed the process.
The eSolar program’s expansion in Montgomery County during the past six months is depicted on the newsolar permitting dashboard and map. The rolling dashboard compares residential rooftop solar permits and eSolar permits side by side, showing the average number of days it takes to issue a permit as well as the total number of installed systems. Every day, the dashboard is updated.
The following Montgomery County solar energy initiatives are among the requirements listed by SolSmart for the Platinum designation:
- Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers.
- Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar photovoltaic (PV).
- Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for simple PV systems.
- Established partnerships with local community-based organizations focused on serving the community to define solar goals, develop implementation strategies, and establish a plan for tracking and reporting.
- Installed solar on government-owned facilities or lands.
- Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting and inspections of solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
- Demonstrated pathway for instant/automatic approval of residential rooftop solar PV systems (i.e., using SolarAPP+).
- Posted community metrics related to the number of solar PV and solar and storage permits and inspections processed annually and average annual permitting and inspection timelines.
According to DPS Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan, 36% of residential rooftop solar permits have been awarded through the eSolar program in the past year, and that percentage is still rising. Residential applications accounted for half of all permit applications in May. This is wonderful news since it implies homeowners are saving time and money by having residential rooftop solar installed more quickly.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office provides funding for SolSmart, which is headed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City/County Management Association. Since the program’s inception in 2016, over 500 cities, municipalities, counties, and regional organizations have been designated as SolSmart. There are currently 43 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico have SolSmart designees. Visit SolSmart.org to learn more.
Go to the DPS website and search for “solar” to learn more about Montgomery County’s residential solar permits and the eSolar program. Take a look at the DPS website’s new solar dashboard on the home page.
DPS can be found in Wheaton at 2425 Reedie Drive, 7th floor. No appointment is required, and the office is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Subscribe to the monthly email, Constructive Comments, to stay in touch with DPS. On your preferred podcasting platform, listen to the DPS Podcast. Contact MC311 at 240-777-0311 for additional details regarding building permits and inspections.
