The Georgia Solar Energy Association extends its appreciation to the City of Atlanta for its adoption of a new, streamlined solar permitting process. The new permitting process will facilitate adding solar panels to the rooftops of homes and businesses in the City of Atlanta. 

This faster approval process comes at an opportune time for increased solar adoption, with programs like the current Solarize Decatur-DeKalb now in progress. 

Solarize Decatur-DeKalb is a limited-time (four months) campaign designed to make solar more affordable and accessible to homes, businesses, and nonprofits in the City of Decatur and DeKalb County, which includes a small portion of the City of Atlanta.  During the campaign, which launched September 1st and ends on Saturday, December 31st, 2016, homes and businesses can receive free, personalized solar evaluations. 

Don Moreland, chair of the GA Solar, worked closely with the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and members of the Georgia Solar Energy Industries Association to develop the process, which will make solar installation easier for city property owners. This process also offers a template that other cities and counties can use to expedite their own solar installation in communities statewide. 

“On behalf of the GA Solar Board of Directors, I congratulate Mayor Kasim Reed and his expert staff in the Office of Sustainability for their leadership with policies that encourage and facilitate solar adoption,” Moreland said. “We hope that other Georgia cities and counties will see the economic and environmental benefits this brings and create their own streamlined permitting process.” 

Moreland said GA Solar can offer guidance on solar permitting, including model statutes. For more information, visit GA Solar's website (www.gasolar.org)

Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, director of the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, said the new solar permitting process is an important part of Mayor Reed’s goal to make Atlanta the most sustainable city in the U.S. 

“As solar installation becomes more prevalent and more attractive to property owners, the City of Atlanta wants to be sure we’re doing our part to make the permitting process as streamlined and efficient as possible, without sacrificing best standards and practices,” Benfield said. “The rise of solar in Atlanta leads to a brighter and cleaner today, tomorrow and beyond.” 

Several workshops and events have been held during the Solarize Decatur-DeKalb program to educate the public about the benefits of solar.  Homes and businesses determined to be suitable and proceeding to installation will get their panels and other costs for less money thanks to bulk purchasing and lower administrative overhead.  The more homes and businesses that participate, the greater the savings. To date, 559 people have signed up which translates to over 400 free solar evaluations, with more to come.