The Department of Planning and Permits hopes to address the delays in Oahu’s solar permits

The Department of Planning and Permitting is working to resolve a backlog in the processing of permit applications for photovoltaic solar projects, which the city attributes to an increase in demand caused by state-level decisions.

DPP Director Dean Uchida said the state’s decision to close the AES Hawaii coal-fired power plant in west Oahu has led to an increase in the number of large-scale projects that require permits, and the permitting process for large-scale projects is more complicated than for single-family homes.

“This need for permits for large solar systems came out of the blue. There was absolutely no coordination or communication with us,” Uchida told the Honolulu City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday.

Another factor Uchida says is contributing to the delay in processing permits is the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s decision to approve a “battery bonus program” that allows Hawaiian Electric Co. customers to get paid when they use their stored batteries Feed solar power into the grid. The move was intended to increase the amount of clean energy in preparation for the coal plant’s closure by September.

“We’re trying to do them (permit requests) as best we can, but … these decisions that are driving up demand are being made without involving us,” Uchida said. “Unfortunately, the criticism of why the permits are not being processed quickly enough applies to us, but we have not been able to prepare for the push for the large-scale solar or battery bonus program.”

Most applications for single family housing projects can be submitted through DPP’s online portal and approval can be granted quickly. However, flagged permit requests may take much longer to process. Applications may be flagged for further evaluation by the department for many reasons, e.g. B. if the property is in a flood zone or there are shoreline problems.

According to the DPP, 49 permits submitted online are currently awaiting processing.

But Hawaii Solar Energy Association executive director Rocky Mold said he doesn’t think the number of DPPs accurately reflects the number of permits hanging in the department’s E-Plans division.

“Since January 1, we’ve been seeing literally hundreds of single-family home E-Plan applications being stuck,” Mold said. “We’re not even sure if they’ve looked at each other before.”

Most industry professionals who believe an application is being reported online take it to the department for manual processing, Mold said. He estimates that the backlog, including the applications received, is around 400. “They don’t even bother applying for an online permit,” Mold said. “You’re going straight to the E plans now.”

DPP did not clarify whether its count of 49 permit applications included those that were stepped on.

Mold believes delays can be avoided if the department relaxes its property labeling criteria. For example, there is a zone code that contains multiple residences in one large tax code.

“Because there are multiple residences under one TMK, these will be flagged,” Mold said.

“That’s one particular one that we’ve really singled out as the one that we believe will bring the greatest advance in single-family home applications.”

This specific situation is affecting new developments like Hoopili and Koa Ridge, which Mold says make up a large portion of the solar industry’s housing market.

Since January, DPP has approved 1,350 solar permits for single family homes.

Uchida is also working to reduce the backlog of general permit applications. The department will publish a call for tenders to modernize its online approval system.

However, Uchida added that while delays can be attributed to the department, it is often the applicants who fill out the applications incorrectly. Councilor Brandon Elefante suggested that it would be helpful to hold an informational briefing on the permitting process in the future to help the public understand it better.