“For years, the solar industry has complained about wide disparities in the permitting fees California cities charge for solar installations on homes, schools, churches and retail stores, not to mention the amount of red tape and time associated with getting a permit processed.
“Now nine East Bay cities — Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Hayward, Oakland, Richmond and San Leandro — have joined forces to streamline the permitting process, a move expected to save contractors and homeowners $850 to $3,500 per solar installation by reducing the need for outside engineering.
“The collaborative effort, three years in the making, could serve as a blueprint for streamlining other sustainable energy permits, from home charging stations for electric vehicles to plumbing for graywater systems.” Read more in Mercury News.