As North Carolina's residential solar market grows, more homeowners associations are facing uncertainties about how to deal with solar installations in their communities. As part of an effort between the State Energy Program, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and members of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership (The Solar Foundation and the NC Clean Energy Technology Center), two new resources have been developed to help North Carolina homeowners associations (HOAs) and their architectural review committees work through these issues. The first is a short brochure detailing the benefits of solar energy, with particular emphasis on benefits to HOAs and homeowners, as well as the role that HOAs can play in facilities solar installations in their communities. The second is Model HOA solar design guidelines, developed specifically for North Carolina communities, which allow for solar installations to occur in a way that balances a homeowner's ability to install a solar energy system and legitimate community concerns about these systems.

DateNovember 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
TopicSolar Basics & Educating Consumers; Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Interconnection
SubprogramSoft Costs
AuthorThe Solar Foundation / North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center

http://solaroutreach.org/resource/model-solar-guidelines-resource-north-carolina-homeowners-associations-facilitate-solar-projects