Cut the Solar Red Tape

Donate Now!

Join our campaign to unite solar enthusiasts throughout the U.S.A. to eliminate the paperwork and red tape that doubles the cost of rooftop solar systems.

Donate Now!

Eliminate Permitting, Interconnection and Inspection (PII) Hassles

According to recent U.S. studies, these costs are about $1,000 for the average U.S. residential system ($0.24/w). That’s no surprise to any solar installer, who must process a veritable mountain of paperwork (which takes 3-6 months) to get a simple system installed. Based on the latest generation of safe, reliable, UL listed equipment, Solar Freedom Now advocates a single national policy for residential system permitting, interconnection and inspections. The state of Vermont has already implemented a simple, one page “registration” process for solar—just like buying a car.Learn More

Cut Solar Installer Overhead—all that other “stuff”

“Soft Costs” are what the DOE calls these labor, customer acquisition, PII and overhead costs. It’s what’s left over after paying for the solar panels, inverters and other hardware. Customer acquisition costs (lead generation, bid preparation, contract negotiation, system design and salesforce compensation) amount to $0.67 in the U.S., compared to $0.06 in Germany. And overhead (insurance, tools, vehicles, IT systems, legal, accounting, administrative, etc.) costs in the U.S. are even higher, representing $1.25/w or $5,000 for the average system. By making it quick and easy to install a standardized system, these overhead costs will be dramatically reduced by spreading them out over a higher volume of installations that an installer can complete.Learn More

Establish a Single National Policy for Standard Rooftop Systems

Germany did it—their costs are HALF of those in the U.S. even though the equipment costs are the same. With18,443 cities, 3,273 utilities and 50 states—all of which have some jurisdiction over rooftop solar systems. Localized efforts to simplify solar regulations are not scalable enough to benefit all Americans. The solution is a single national policy so that standardized, UL listed systems can be installed by any qualified contractor. Support Solar Freedom Now to make this national solar policy a reality.Learn More

Latest Blog Posts

People Are Talking

For almost 60 years, ASES has been working to promote safe, affordable solar energy. We see Solar Freedom Now as the best path forward to reduce these stubbornly high installation costs
Susan Greene, President of ASES
…We can shape an agenda that says we can create jobs, advance growth and make a serious dent in climate change and be an international leader, I think that’s something that the American people would support…
Barack Obama, President of the United States
I’ve been trying to put solar panels on my house for the last five months. And the regulatory process – you can’t get through it. What’s going on here? Why is there regulatory opposition to solar energy?
George Schultz, former Secretary of State