Spokane has become the first city in Washington to launch a pilot project involving an online software platform for local governments to standardize, streamline, and automate the solar permitting process for residential applications. The software, SolarAPP+, allows for an instantaneous permit application review and reduces wait times for residential rooftop solar systems by at least two weeks.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed SolarAPP+ in collaboration with the solar industry, code organizations, the building safety community, and local governments.
Interest in solar systems in Spokane has grown steadily over the past few years, the City issued 72 permits in 2019 and that number has since grown to 523 permits in 2023.
Read more here: City First in State to Implement Solar Permit Software Program – City of Spokane, Washington (spokanecity.org)
Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 22168