Pico Rivera

Pico Rivera, California earned SolSmart Gold designation through an exciting combination of initiatives including sharing solar job information with residents, adopting automated solar permitting proceses, and more. The city earned an Innovative Action credit for their work on the PRIME Power Choice Program, an initiative that removed barriers such as low credit and high up-front costs to residents wanting to install solar energy.

• Posted a solar landing page on local government’s website with information that may include the community’s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar
• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives.
• Posted online resources about consumer protection and solar PV.
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to Homeowner Associations (HOAs) ability to regulate and/or restrict solar PV, including links to state-level policy
• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV
• Distributed solar job training and career opportunities in coordination with local colleges and/or workforce development organizations
• Local government has procured solar energy for municipal operations or signed contract to procure solar energy for municipal operations through an offsite physical PPA, virtual PPA, green tariff, or similar structure
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land
• Took an innovative action to make going solar easier and more affordable for residents and/or businesses that was not captured in any of the criteria already in the program
• Provided residents with Community Choice Aggregation/Energy that includes solar PV as a power generation source
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV
• Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Trained inspection staff on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Demonstrated pathway for instant/automatic approval of residential rooftop solar PV systems (e.g., using SolarAPP+)
• Adopted a standard solar PV permit application form aligned with best practices
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval
• Required no more than one inspection for small rooftop solar PV
• Posted an online statement confirming a three-business day turnaround time for residential rooftop solar PV
• Distinguished between solar PV systems qualifying for streamlined and standard permit review
• Provided an online process for solar PV inspection scheduling
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s solar plus (e.g., battery storage, and/or electric vehicle charging) permitting process
• Review zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones
• Ensured the zoning ordinance language does not include intentional or unintentional barriers to accessory use rooftop solar PV
• Codified a solar requirement for new construction and/or retrofits meeting a specific threshold, in at least one zoning district
• Required new construction affordable housing and multifamily housing to be solar ready