Comments on: Santa Rosa streamlines permit process for solar arrays

By: Social Dis-Ease

Social Dis-Ease — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:22:16 +0000

If they take two steps forward, and one step back…
they STILL TOOK A STEP FORWARD!
Welcome to Fabian Socialism.
Welcome to Agenda 21.

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By: srgem

srgem — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:42:09 +0000

Imposition of the regulations were a way for the FD to raise revenue, plain and simple. Not that they don’t have enough already. Council approved the additional fees in June, I think it was – they justified the expense by stating that they could charge for travel time to do a five minute inspection, and have a minimum time charge for the inspection that is greater than five minutes. Unbelievable. I’m glad it’s been simplified for no other reason other than the FD won’t be charging exorbinant fees for the PV arrays. I feel sorry for the people who had to pay it.

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By: Demosthenes

Demosthenes — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:46:06 +0000

“End of the Line” and “Regulate this”, please, for the sake of civil discourse, use the same name and don’t try to control the conversation by portraying yourself as multiple voices.

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By: David

David — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:01:59 +0000

@GAJ

I have 18 panels for a 3.9 KW system. I now pay nothing to PG&E for electricity and my solar payment is equal to what I used to pay PG&E each month.

My solar panels are mounted on the section of the roof facing South. I have room for 3 more panels on the South roof. If these rules had been in place when I had the system installed 2 years ago, it would have required more panels due to having to place many of them on Western facing part of the roof. The increased costs would probably have resulted in me not having the system installed.

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By: GAJ

GAJ — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:41:07 +0000

Anyone out there with panels installed that can give us an idea on what their payback is in terms of number of years it will take to recoup the investment?

When I checked in to it a few years back it was about 15 years.

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By: Regulate This

Regulate This — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:00:12 +0000

Solar panels are not cost effective and ugly, but so are the city regulations that the city uses to regulate building permits.

Less bureaucratic red tape is always a good thing. Santa Rosa has way too many regulation requirements that don’t really accomplish anything except drive costs up and create more building and fire department jobs.

Too much of it is feel good regulation. This solar panel permit process is exhibit A.

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By: End of the Line

End of the Line — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:47:35 +0000

Wow!!! Maybe the City Council is reading what their voters are telling them?

One small step for the forlorn homeowner and taxpayer; one step for cost cutting and efficiency. Something unknown in the ranks of city government. We will see what happens.

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