Bill > H3683

This bill aims to streamline the permitting and inspection process for solar energy and energy storage systems in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1) Allowing for electronic submission of permit applications and associated documentation, as well as accepting electronic signatures instead of wet signatures. The permit application must be deemed complete if the Permit Granting Authority does not issue a written notice of deficiencies within 5 business days. 2) Establishing a default approval process where the permit is deemed approved, and the applicant may begin installation, if the Permit Granting Authority does not administratively approve or deny the permit within 10 business days after the application is deemed complete. 3) Limiting the number of required inspections to one for solar PV, building-integrated PV, solar thermal, energy storage, or combined solar and energy storage systems, and requiring the Permit Granting Authority to issue a certificate of completion within 10 business days of receiving notice of system installation. 4) Prohibiting electric distribution companies from requiring additional inspections as a precondition for granting the customer permission to operate the installed system. The goal of this bill is to streamline the permitting and inspection process for solar and energy storage systems, making it easier and faster for homeowners and businesses to install these renewable energy technologies.