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BACKGROUND Senate Bill 379 mandates that all cities in California with a population greater than 50,000 residents implement an online, automated permitting platform such as SolarApp+ by September 30, 2023. The Bill does not mandate the use of SolarAPP+ specifically; jurisdictions can use SolarAPP+ or create their own platform if the system functions in the same manner as SolarAPP+. Since SolarAPP+ is maintained by NREL and UL, most jurisdictions are using SolarAPP+ instead of designing their own system. SolarAPP+ is a free, web-based portal that automates plan review, produces code- compliant approvals, and allows a jurisdiction to issue permits in real time for residential solar energy systems as well as systems paired with energy storage (battery storage). The bill requires that cities and counties report to the energy commission annually the number of permits issued, as well as other relevant metrics pursuant to SB 379. To facilitate the transition to automated solar permitting, the CEC is offering a Grant Funding Opportunity (GFO), GFO-21-402, to provide funding for cities that are working to implement an online automated solar permitting process. CaIAPP is currently administering $20 million in funding that was awarded to the CEC through Senate Bill 129 (Skinner, Budget Act of 2021). Pleasanton is eligible to receive up to $60,000 for this project through CaIAPP. DISCUSSION The Building Division has been working to automate and streamline the permit process over this past year. To date, the City has successfully implemented DigEplan electronic plan review software as well as Accela Citizens Access (ACA) to accept all permit applications online. Staff has also streamlined permit issuance for simple residential permits that do not require a plan review, such as water heaters, furnace change outs, and EV chargers. Applicants are now able to obtain these permits fully online. To expand the City's automated permitting capabilities and to comply with Senate Bill 379, the City plans to integrate the SolarApp+ solar permitting software with the current Accela permitting system. This will allow applicants the benefit of receiving solar photovoltaic permits online. The SolarApp+ software will perform an electronic plan review, produce an inspection checklist to verify code-complying installations and integrate with Accela to issue a permit for the project. Implementing the automated solar permitting process will bring Pleasanton one step closer to meeting its energy goals of reducing greenhouse gases as identified in the Climate Action Plan 2.0. The California Energy Commission is offering cities with a population up to 99,999 residents up to $60,000 in grant funding through the California Automated Permit Processing Program (CaIAPP) for the implementation of an online solar permitting process that will allow contractors to efficiently obtain permits, helping California and the City meet established clean energy goals. The grant will cover the cost of technical consultant expenses necessary to perform the integration of SolarAPP+ into the current Accela permitting software. Page 2 of 3