Solar Energy Resources
Getting Started with Solar:
Welcome to Verona’s solar resource webpage! The Township of Verona is seeking ways to encourage solar energy development in our community. This webpage represents a collection of solar information and resources for the community. Our solar goals can be found in our Solar Statement here. For more information about the basics of solar energy, your solar options, and questions to ask solar professionals, read the Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and visit the Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar.
Policies and Processes:
Provide information about the local government’s permitting, inspection, and zoning process for solar energy.
It is recommended you:
- Link to the permitting checklist, inspection guidelines, zoning ordinance language about solar, and historic property/district guidelines
- Include information and/or links to applicable building and electrical codes
- Identify all Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) including the local utility
Helpful tip: You could use the following language to identify key policies and processes.
Our Solar Commitment:
The [community name and applicable department e.g. Building, Planning, etc] is/are committed to exceptional customer services as it relates to solar processes. To promote the continued advancement of solar in our community we are committed to the following:
- Providing clear guidelines about the solar permitting and inspection process in our [solar checklist ß link to checklist].
- Using a [solar specific permit application ß link to application].
- Processing small rooftop solar PV permits applications in less than 3 business days.
- Offering inspection appointment times for solar projects (instead of appointment windows).
- [Add additional solar process commitments as needed]
Verona's Solar Statement:
We are proud to announce our commitment to become a SolSmart-designated community. In partnership with the SolSmart team, Verona’s dedicated staff members will work to improve solar market conditions, making it faster, easier, and more affordable for our residents and businesses to install solar energy systems. These efforts will also increase the efficiency of local processes related to solar development, which may save our local government time and money.
SolSmart builds upon our community’s participation in the Verona Solar Challenge.
Verona will leverage SolSmart to achieve the following goals:
- Develop a streamlined process for solar permitting or inspections.
- Expand on current solar energy systems on key local government facilities.
- Expand and communicate solar finance options for residential or commercial properties.
These efforts demonstrate that our community is committed to driving continual improvement in our solar market, and in the process of doing so, all the related areas identified as community priorities by our Green Team, Sustainable Verona.
In order to measure progress along the way, Verona will track key metrics related to solar energy deployment, such as installed solar capacity and the number of installations across sectors.
In these efforts, we call on our residents, businesses, non-profits, and others to get involved, and we invite everyone to stay tuned by visiting www.veronasolar.org and www.veronanj.org/sustainableverona .
Inquiries related to Verona’s SolSmart participation can be directed to Steven Neale at stneale@veronanj.org or 973-239-4921.
Solar Benefits
Solar energy uses a renewable energy source – the sun – and provides many benefits for individuals and the community. It improves environmental quality by reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, supports local solar companies in [state ß link to state specific webpage from SEIA], saves money on energy costs as the price continues to drop from technological developments, and improves electric grid resilience during peak demand and other stresses to the system.
Helpful tip: Link to your state’s webpage from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to highlight your state’s solar metrics and information. Link to applicable state webpage from SEIA
Solar Maps and Potential
Investigate your property’s solar potential by clicking here. You can also estimate the performance of potential PV projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.
Helpful tip: If your community, a non-profit, or regional organization has a solar map, link to it as well.
Finding a Contractor and Going Solar
Find a solar contractor (or two) to assess your home for solar energy and provide a quote.
- Certified practitioners can be found through NABCEP.
- Visit EnergySage to learn about solar energy and submit for solar quotes from a network of pre-screened, local solar installers
- Consumer Solar Checklist – a checklist for residential consumers considering solar energy from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
- Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights – ensure a positive consumer experience by addressing important issues from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
- Solar Customer Resource Portal – various resources from SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Financing, Incentives, and Tax Exemptions
Typically solar installations are paid for through loans or cash, with Federal and State incentives available.
- A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing – learn about different financing options from CESA, the Clean Energy States Alliance.
Helpful tip: Add information about any state and local incentives for solar energy such as state grants, utility rebates, or local tax exemptions.
Solar Rights and Procedures
Read the [State Statute – if applicable link to state law about your solar rights]. Describe the process for a solar easement or recording a solar system for a property owner in your community.
Get Involved, Stay Informed
Include information or a link to information about your community’s committee, taskforce, or working group that meets recurringly and includes solar energy as a routine agenda item.
Job Training and Educational Opportunities
If you are interested in pursuing a career in solar energy, here are some links to regional and national educational courses, programs, and/or trainings offered from colleges, universities, technical institutions, and non-profits.
- The Solar Foundation’s Solar Training Network (Career Connections, Education & Workforce Partnerships).
Helpful tip: Provide links to area solar PV educational courses, programs, and/or trainings offered from colleges, universities, technical institutions, and non-profits.
Local Solar Metrics and Projects
Provide a table or link to a dashboard that indicates your community’s solar metrics. This information should be updated at least annually.
List or describe information about local government solar projects in the community. This provides an opportunity to link to monitoring information, photos, and/or articles about the solar projects.
Helpful tip: You might need to reach out to your Building Department or local utility to find this information. You can ask your contact for the number of installed projects and the total capacity in kilowatts (kWs). It is helpful to separate the type of system into residential and nonresidential.
More Useful Solar Information
- Link to state agency solar information
- Link to local utility solar webpage and/or interconnection procedures
- Link to state and/or regional solar energy or renewable energy association
This page is your main source for information regarding solar installation. The Township of Verona remains dedicated to creating a more sustainable future and strives to make the adoption of solar energy in town as stress free as possible.
Below you will find information specific to the Township of Verona on Permitting & Planning, Zoning & Development as well as special focus categories, including Inspections, Relevant Construction Codes, Community Engagement, Market Development & Finance and any innovative actions the Township is currently working on.
