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Unified Solar Permit

This page details the steps your community needs to take to get Clean Energy Communities Program certification for this Action Item by NYSERDA and how Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) can assist you. As the Finger Lakes Region Clean Energy Communities Coordinator, we are available to help you through any step in this process. Please email Rob Richardson at rrichardson@gflrpc.org, or if you have been working with one of the other Clean Energy Communities Coordinators at G/FLRPC, email them directly for help completing this action item.

The Unified Solar Permit is a standardized permit application designed to streamline the approval process for installing solar in your community. The standardized permit is expected to cut costs by creating a uniform permitting process in municipalities across the State. As local governments adopt the permit, installers and communities alike will save time and resources permitting solar electric systems. An expedited process will allow these standard systems to pass quickly though the jurisdictional review process, freeing up time for all involved parties, decreasing the overall installation time for customers, and allowing non-standard systems the necessary time for detailed review. 

Step 1: Pass a resolution 

Here is a sample resolution to adopt the Unified Solar Permit that can be accessed here. The resolution only need state that your municipality (or county) is adopting the NYS Unified Solar Permit. You will need to edit the permit to include your municipalities name and associated fees.

Step 2: Get certified by NYSERDA 

Submit the adopted resolution and permit through the following portal: https://nyserda-site.secure.force.com/CEC_HighImpact_Action_Item_Document_Page  

You can view G/FLRPC's recent Unified Solar Permit webinar here: http://www.gflrpc.org/cecwebinars.html.