65850.52.
(a) For purposes of this section:(1) “Energy Commission” means the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.
(2) “Energy storage system” means commercially available technology, located behind a customer’s utility meter, that is capable of absorbing electricity generated from a colocated electricity generator or from the electric grid, storing it for a period of time, and thereafter discharging it to meet the energy or power needs of the host customer or for export.
(3) “Photovoltaic solar “Solar
energy system” means any of the following: configuration of solar energy devices that collects and distributes solar energy for the purpose of generating electricity and that has a single interconnection with the electric utility transmission or distribution network.
(A)A solar collector or other solar energy device the primary purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation.
(B)Any of the following structural design features:
(i)Solar racking, solar mounting, solar trackers, solar carports, solar shade structures, solar awnings, solar canopies, and solar patio covers, regardless of whether the feature is on the ground or on a structure.
(ii)A design feature the primary purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation.
(iii)A photovoltaic device or technology that is integrated into a building, including, but not limited to, photovoltaic windows, siding, and roofing shingles or tiles.
(4)“Residential photovoltaic solar energy system” is a photovoltaic solar energy system that is installed on a single family dwelling.
(5)
(4) “SolarAPP” means the most recent version of a web-based portal, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, that automates plan review, produces code-compliant approvals, and issues permits for residential photovoltaic solar energy systems and energy storage systems paired with residential photovoltaic solar energy systems.
(b) Pursuant to the compliance schedule in subdivision (d), a city, county, or city and county, in consultation with the local fire department, district, or authority
shall implement an online, automated permitting platform, such as SolarAPP SolarAPP, that verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time to a licensed contractor for a residential photovoltaic solar energy system that is no larger than 38.4 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating and an energy storage system paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system that is no larger than 38.4 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating, and is consistent with the
system parameters and configurations, including an inspection checklist, of SolarAPP. Consistent with the same compliance schedule, a city, county, or city and county shall amend its ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 65850.5 to authorize a residential solar energy system and an energy storage system to use the online, automated permitting platform.
(c)(1)Pursuant to the compliance schedule in subdivision (d), a city, county, city and county, or fire
department, district, or authority shall provide an option for remote inspections by real-time or recorded video or photo for a residential photovoltaic solar energy system and battery storage systems paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy permitted in accordance with subdivision (b). These inspections may be scheduled electronically via email, the online, automated permitting platform pursuant to subdivision (b), or other electronic means. Remote inspections shall be offered at no greater cost, and shall be available with no greater delay, than in-person inspections.
(2)For a residential photovoltaic solar energy system and battery storage systems paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system permitted in accordance with subdivision (b), only one inspection shall be
required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection, provided that a separate fire safety inspection may be performed in a city, county, or city and county that does not have an agreement with a local fire department, district, or authority to conduct a fire safety inspection on behalf of the fire department, district, or authority. An additional in-person inspection may be required if a residential photovoltaic solar energy system fails inspection or if an inspector cannot verify compliance by remote means.
(d)
(c) (1) A county with a
population of less than 150,000, and all cities within a county with a population of less than 150,000, are exempt from subdivisions (b) and (c). subdivision (b).
(2) A city with a population of 10,001 to 50,000, inclusive, 50,000 or less that is not exempt pursuant to paragraph (1) shall satisfy the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c)
subdivision (b) no later than September 30, 2023.
(3) A city, county, or city and county with a population of greater than 50,000 that is not exempt pursuant to paragraph (1) shall satisfy the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c) subdivision (b) no later than September 30, 2022.
(e)
(d) The Energy Commission may provide technical assistance and grant funding to city, county, or city and county, in order to support the implementation of online, automated permitting for a residential photovoltaic solar energy system and an energy storage system paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system, the implementation of remote inspections for a residential photovoltaic solar energy system and an energy storage system paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system, and solar energy
system and for compliance with the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c)
subdivision (b) in a timely manner.
(1) The Energy Commission shall develop grant guidelines and other requirements in a public process by May 1, 2022, and make applications available no later than June 1, 2022.
(2) The Energy Commission shall prioritize processing grant applications from local jurisdictions serving low-income communities, disadvantaged communities as defined by the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool, also known as CalEnviroScreen 3.0, or those containing high fire-threat districts as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 3280 of the Public Utilities Code.
(3) The Public Utilities Commission shall require Pacific Gas and Electric
Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company to repurpose twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) of funds supporting the New Solar Homes Partnership Program, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 2851 of the Public Utilities Code, for providing the technical assistance and grant funding described in this subdivision and to provide for the Energy Commission’s costs to administer the program. Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 2851 of the Public Utilities Code, these funds may be disbursed after December 31, 2021.
(f)
(e) A city, county, city and county, or a fire department, district, or authority shall report to the Energy Commission when it is in compliance with subdivisions (b) and (c). subdivision (b).
(g)
(f) The Energy Commission shall set guidelines for cities and counties to report to the
commission on the number of permits issued for residential photovoltaic
solar energy systems and an energy storage system paired with a solar energy system and the relevant characteristics of those systems. A city, county, or city and county shall report annually to the Energy Commission pursuant to those guidelines within a year of implementing the automated solar permitting system pursuant to subdivision (b).
(h)
(g) (1) A city, county, or city and county that is not in compliance with Section 65850.5 or 66015 is not eligible to receive the
funding available pursuant to subdivision (e). A city, county, or city and county shall self-certify its compliance with Section
65850.5 or 66015 when applying for funds from a state-sponsored or state-administered grant or loan program.
(2) A city, county, or city and county that is not in compliance with subdivisions (b) and (c) subdivision (b) is not eligible to receive funds from a state-sponsored or state-administered solar or energy storage grant or loan program, other than the funding available in subdivision (e). A city, county, or city and county shall certify its compliance with the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c) subdivision
(b) when applying for funds from a state-sponsored or state-administered grant or loan program.
(i)
(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the generator interconnection requirements and approval process for a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 224.3 of the Public Utilities Code.
(j)
(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to increase or otherwise affect the liability of a local agency pertaining to a solar energy system or an energy storage system paired with a solar energy system installed pursuant to this section.