Solar Permitting Fees Plummet After Study Shows Wide Cost Discrepancies

The Global Warming & Energy Committee of the Sierra Club chapter in Silicon Valley decide to highlight the excessive permitting charges of some local cities... and results happen.

1 minute read

December 25, 2005, 7:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid

"A survey by the Sierra Club this fall of the permit fees that cities in the region charge residents to install solar panels on their homes already is resulting in lower fees.

In the past two weeks, at least three cities -- San Mateo, Morgan Hill and Los Altos Hills -- have moved to dramatically reduce solar fees as a result of the survey and subsequent coverage of it by the Mercury News and other news outlets."

From Executive Summary:

"This study compares the progress of 40 cities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Benito counties in making PV more affordable to homeowners. The goal is to determine a reasonable ceiling for permit fees and to encourage permitting authorities to lower fees that are unreasonably high."

Thanks to Stan Van Velsor

FULL STORY: Cities slash solar permit fees

Wednesday, December 21, 2005 in San Jose Mercury News

Energy Government / Politics Housing Technology California

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