Leading cloud-based solutions provider for government, Accela has reportedly inked a collaboration with the U.S. DOE (Department of Energy)’s NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). This partnership is aimed at launching a new online instant solar permitting platform for home solar and battery projects, dubbed SolarAPP+ (Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus).
The SaaS (software-as-a-service) solution will be made available to more than 1,500 agencies once launched and will be rolled-out cost-free to Accela’s current local and state customers. It will significantly improve permitting timelines from the current average of two weeks to instantaneous. The alliance between the entities will thus help strengthen community resilience, meet the evolving clean energy demand, foster economic recovery and expedite solar permitting nationwide.
Accela has harbored partnerships with agencies in over 80% of the largest U.S. cities over the years, with an aim to modernize solar permitting. These include San Diego, California; the State of Oregon; Clark County, Nevada; and Charlotte County, Florida
Accela Chief Operating Officer, Tom Nieto has reportedly expressed his excitement at collaborating with NREL on the SolarAPP+ project, stating that it is in perfect alignment with Accela’s mission to provide innovative SaaS solutions designed to enhance efficiency, maximize citizen engagement and develop resilient and thriving communities in the present as well as for the future.
NREL's SolarAPP+ Project Lead, Dr. Jeffrey J. Cook also commented on the alliance, praising Accela for its recognition of the fact that building smart cities is a complex endeavor which requires a robust ecosystem comprising of citizens, local businesses, technology partners and government leaders. Through the integration of SolarAPP+, he claimed, the company is highlighting its commitment towards providing counties and cities, regardless of size, with solutions that can rebalance permitting workloads, and in turn unlock the tremendous economic potential offered by residential solar energy.
The SolarAPP+ project is funded by the DOE, and backed by a vast coalition of industry and building safety partners. It is designed to enable counties and cities to streamline and standardize permitting requirements for residential solar and battery applications, to simplify and accelerate instant home solar permitting nationwide.