Riverhead Jumps on Solar Fast Track Permit Initiative; Southold Weighs Merit

Homeowners on the fence about installing solar panels on their roof may soon get the incentive they want to make the switch.

Or maybe they have it already.

Town leaders in Riverhead and Southold last week both discussed adopting a plan which would provide the towns with $15,000 each to institute a fast-track solar permit application. The Long Island Unified Solar Permit Initiative is sponsored by the Long Island Power Authority and coordinated by the Suffolk County Planning Commission, and is open to every town in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

According to David Calone, chairman of the SCPC, the LIUSPI is intended to serve as a "simplified and streamlined process ... Instead of each town reinventing the wheel, we're trying to bring towns together."

While Riverhead leaders are in full support, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said late last week he's waiting to see if the process would be best for Southold, and wondered how much an incentive the fast track permit actually is.

"We need to make sure it's right for Southold Town," Russell said. "I'd rather evaluate this thoroughly and make sure we're doing the right thing for the taxpayers rather than pass something hurriedly because something is being dangled out there."

Under the streamlined process, each town that passes legislation accepting the fast track initiative before the end of the year would be granted $15,000. Residential homeowners would have a form tailored to solar panel installations — rather than a typical building application — would pay a fee of no more than $50 to receive a permit and would be granted or denied a permit within two weeks.

Councilwoman Jodi Giglio, the Town Board's liaison to the Renewable Energy Committee, called the $15,000 an "implementation fee" and the town's three other board members, plus Supervisor Sean Walter, all welcomed the streamlining idea — and the extra cash.

Riverhead residents currently pay $150 when applying for a solar panel installation, said Interim Building Department Head Sharon Klos last Thursday.

According to Southold's Chief Building Inspector, Mike Verity, Southold residents currently pay $200 and are granted a permit within 10 days. Looking at the LIUSPI requirements, Verity said, "It appears we already comply with most of these requirements."

Solar installation companies may see the biggest benefit of the fast-track initiative.

Jamie Minnick, president of Eastern Energy Systems in Mattituck, said a unified code would allow him to know from town to town what the requirements are.

"The process right now might be a little more complicated than it needs to be," he said. "This way we could have one application rather than one for each town and village."

Minnick said that the average cost of a solar panel installation system, taking into account rebates and government incentives, could cost homeowners anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000.

In addition to the 13 Nassau and Suffolk towns, the initiative is open to the first 10 villages that pass legislation supporting the process. Villages are eligible for $5,000.

Houses that are subject to review by historical review boards are ineligible for the fast track permit.