I am writing in favor of HB590, patroned by Delegate Hernandez. I believe that a well-implemented “Smart Solar Permitting Platform” could substantially reduce bureaucracy, timeframes and ultimately costs for residential solar permitting and thereby significantly increase solar uptake. This would help reduce Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions, save money for consumers and create new opportunities to better manage the electric grid through such strategies as virtual power plants. Journalist Michael Thomas demonstrated in a detailed report last year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Sfxxx9m5U) why Australia has so much cheaper rooftop solar and a much larger percentage of its people opting for solar: around a third of the population vs. the U.S.’s anemic rate of 4%. As Thomas discusses, most of the cost differential is due to soft costs – the unnecessary regulatory burdens we impose on solar. HB590’s proposed approach would directly address this problem by streamlining permitting, as Australia has done. This is indeed a smart approach and I recommend that you pass this legislation.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony regarding residential solar permitting in the Commonwealth. I respectfully encourage consideration of expanded use of SolarAPP+, an automated residential solar permitting platform developed with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. SolarAPP+ allows localities to issue building and electrical permits for code-compliant rooftop solar systems through automated review, significantly reducing approval timelines while maintaining applicable safety and inspection standards. Several Virginia jurisdictions currently utilize SolarAPP+, including Prince William County, Culpeper County, the City of Harrisonburg, and Pulaski County, demonstrating the efficiency and consistency achievable through modernized permitting. These jurisdictions benefit from reduced administrative burden, improved staff efficiency, and measurable cost and time savings. By contrast, localities relying solely on traditional plan review often experience extended timelines, including two to four weeks in Henry County and three or more weeks in the City of Roanoke. Broader adoption of SolarAPP+ could improve predictability, reduce workload for local governments, and support responsible residential solar development across the Commonwealth. Thank you for your time and consideration.

We support HB289 and HB395 as they will enable a broad swath of Virginians , including renters, to afford small-scale solar. We support HB590 as it streamlines approval of residential solar, which will help consumers implement solar projects. We support HB617, as it will expand the very important virtual power plant program so necessary to meeting grid demand. We strongly support HB628 to expand power purchase agreements, a crucial element of meeting clean energy goals. We support HB634 to enhance energy assistance and weatherization. We support HB807's shared solar proposal to improve the viability of that program. We oppose HB369 as it puts nuclear energy in a category that should be reserved for clean, renewable power.

I am writing in favor of HB590, patroned by Delegate Hernandez. I believe that a well-implemented “Smart Solar Permitting Platform” could substantially reduce bureaucracy, timeframes and ultimately costs for residential solar permitting and thereby significantly increase solar uptake. This would help reduce Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions, save money for consumers and create new opportunities to better manage the electric grid through such strategies as virtual power plants. Journalist Michael Thomas demonstrated in a detailed report last year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Sfxxx9m5U) why Australia has so much cheaper rooftop solar and a much larger percentage of its people opting for solar: around a third of the population vs. the U.S.’s anemic rate of 4%. As Thomas discusses, most of the cost differential is due to soft costs – the unnecessary regulatory burdens we impose on solar. HB590’s proposed approach would directly address this problem by streamlining permitting, as Australia has done. This is indeed a smart approach and I recommend that you pass this legislation.