The Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2), in collaboration with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), has released the Grid Ready Home Act, investigated legislation supported to help states to expand access to solar energy on the roof and to meet the growing demand for electricity. This model legislation offers policymakers a clear framework that streamlines interconnection and allows processes to reduce the project delays that increase the costs for companies and households.
Credit: Werner Slocum/NREL
“The demand for electricity is increasing rapidly, the costs are rising and at the same time more Americans want affordable, local solar and storage options,” said David Gahl, executive director of SI2. “Now more than ever, we need leadership in Staatshouses throughout the country. The Grid Ready Home Act gives states an immediate way to tackle the rising demand with solar energy and storage and to offer Americans to affordable and install solar energy solutions easier.”
Recent research by SI2 shows that “soft costs” that include interconnection and allow delays, make -up 52% of the total costs of residential solar energy. By standardizing the approval processes for small systems under 25 kW and requiring a smart inverter functionality for managed grid activities, the Raster Ready Home Act states helps to lower these costs and accelerate the acceptance of solar energy.
This model legislation comes at a time when state laws in the political spectrum are increasingly recognizing the urgent need for streamlined permit processes to speed up the development of the energy project. By combining research supported solutions with clear policy guidelines, the Grid Ready Home Act states helps to expand access to clean energy, reduce costs for households and companies and to strengthen the electric schedule in order to be introduced by growing distributed energy sources.
News item from SI2
