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The change is part of the state’s energy affordability omnibus bill.
Photo Credit: iStock
In Massachusetts, homeowners can end up waiting longer on rooftop solar paperwork than on the installation itself. Lawmakers in the state are considering a proposal that could cut solar and battery permit approvals from months to roughly 24 hours.
That could matter especially in Brookline, where the average solar project takes 125 days and delays homeowners who want to cut energy costs and rely less on planet-warming fuel sources.
With solar projects taking an average of 94 days statewide, Massachusetts is weighing an automated permitting system for qualifying rooftop solar and battery setups. According to Brookline.News, the change is part of the state’s energy affordability omnibus bill and could reduce approval times and project costs.
Brookline resident David Mendels spent about six months navigating the permitting process before getting approval for solar. A structural problem with his roof later canceled the installation, but he said faster permitting still would have saved him and his installer time, money, and frustration.
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Matthew McAllister, executive director of the automated solar permitting nonprofit Solar APP+, said shorter approval timelines could eliminate about $3,000 in soft costs tied to storage, equipment, marketing, and projects that get canceled during long waits. As he explained to Brookline.News, a homeowner could complete a Solar APP+ application in around 30 minutes and, if it clears electrical and building review, receive a permit that same day.
Adding solar to your home is one of the best ways to drastically lower your energy bills, so long delays can be costly. Homeowners considering the switch can use EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
Permitting delays and electrical-code issues left Brookline resident Alaina Kinol waiting about a year to get solar panels and a battery installed, reported Brookline.News, as she sought to lower her family’s utility bills and carbon footprint.
Reliable backup power was also a major reason Kinol pursued the project, since her child depends on medical equipment.
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“We had one really scary day before the solar and battery were installed where the power went out and we weren’t sure we would be able to turn on his oxygen concentrator at night which was, at that point, essential for him,” she said.
Brookline officials have not taken a uniform view of the proposed automation. 
Sustainability and Natural Resources Director Alexandra Vecchio said it would “allow us to more easily meet our climate goals.”
Retired Building Commissioner Dan Bennett warned, “It’s very difficult to do a one-size-fits-all because each city and town is different [in permitting codes]. [Permit applicants] are not going to get the permit in a day. We always have to review [permits].”
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Supporters argue that speeding up approvals would not weaken safety checks or oversight. McAllister said Solar APP+ works with local officials before rollout so everyone is aligned on code interpretations, and added, “We are just as safe as traditional permitting.”
The bill passed the Massachusetts House in February and the Senate in July and is being reconciled in a conference committee. Similar proposals have surfaced in Rhode Island and have already been adopted in New Jersey and Virginia, while Permit Power says that Solar APP+ increased solar adoption in Arizona municipalities by 140% from 2020 to 2023 compared to places that did not use it, reported Brookline.News.
Free consumer tools can also help while broader policy changes are still underway. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with available solar incentives.
Adding battery storage can help protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and provide reliable backup power. Readers can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
“We could have less energy that was coming from mixed sources like gas power plants … as well as the access to resilience to power outages which was important to us because of the medical needs that we had,” she said.
Massachusetts is hardly the only state trying to clear the red tape around rooftop solar and battery projects. Around New England and elsewhere, officials are changing permitting rules, utility policies, and incentives to cut delays, lower costs, and make backup power easier to add at home.
• Connecticut and Virginia are speeding home solar permitting to cut delays and costs.
• Maryland and Virginia allow balcony solar systems that can trim apartment power bills.
• Oregon homeowners are racing to claim up to $7,500 in solar and battery rebates.
These stories show how much state policy shapes the experience of going solar or adding a battery. For Massachusetts homeowners, the difference could be months of waiting versus getting cleaner, more resilient power a lot sooner.
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