The impact of city-level permitting processes on residential photovoltaic installation prices and development times: An empirical analysis of solar systems in California cities

摘要: With “soft” costs accounting for well over 50% of the installed price residential photovoltaic (PV) systems in United States, this study evaluates effect city-level permitting processes on PV and time required to develop those systems. The uses a unique dataset from U.S. Department Energy's Rooftop Solar Challenge Program, which includes process “scores,” plus data California Initiative Census. Econometric methods are used quantify development-time effects more than 3000 installations across 44 cities 2011. Results suggest that with most favorable practices can reduce average prices by $0.27–$0.77/W (4–12% median California) compared onerous practices, depending regression model used. Though empirical models development times less robust, results streamlined may shorten around 24 days (25% time). These findings illustrate potential benefits streamlining local procedures