Streamlined Solar Permitting And Inspection Grants

The act creates the streamlined solar permitting and inspection grant program (program) in the Colorado energy office (office), which will grant money to local governments to implement free automated permitting and inspection software for residential solar projects. To fund the program, the act creates the streamlined solar permitting and inspection cash fund (fund), which is annually appropriated to the office, and appropriates $992,709 from the general fund to the fund for fiscal year 2023-24. The act requires the office to administer the program by developing procedures to award money to applicants, establishing a process for applicants to apply for money, requiring applicants to demonstrate expected costs to implement the automated permitting and inspection software, and beginning to approve applicants no later than June 30, 2024. A grantee is encouraged to implement the free automated permitting software within 180 days of receipt of grant money. Grantees are required to report to the office the implementation status of the free automated permitting software one year after being granted the money, and are encouraged to voluntarily report the same information each year thereafter for 4 years. The office is required to report to the house of representatives energy and environment committee, the senate transportation committee, and the joint budget committee the progress of the grant program yearly beginning on January 1, 2025, and continuing until the repeal of the program on July 1, 2034, or until 5 years after the last grant is awarded, whichever comes first. APPROVED by Governor May 11, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)