A new report from several industry groups in the United States states that millions of homeowners face unnecessary barriers in owning rooftop solar and battery projects.  Frontier Group、 The Environmental Research and Policy Center and Permit Power in the United States have released the "Solar Licensing Scorecard," which evaluates solar licensing policies in all 50 states and recommends modifications to make residential rooftop solar and battery more feasible.

Home solar energy and batteries can reduce household electricity bills by over 80%. However, due to the high cost of red tape, the savings from rooftop solar energy are out of reach for many people, "said Nick Josefowitz, founder and CEO of Permit Power. If American households can install rooftop solar energy and household batteries at the same price as households in other countries, it will enable millions of households to install rooftop solar energy and reduce utility bills.

Permit Power stated in a press release that bureaucratic barriers in solar licensing may increase the cost of residential solar projects by $6000 to $7000. The Rocky Mountains National Laboratory (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) estimates that 10% to 20% of residential solar projects that have obtained construction permits are still unfinished.

Out of the 50 states rated on the Solar License Scorecard, only four states scored higher than "D" - California (B), Texas (B), New Jersey (C), and Colorado (C). No state has received an "A" rating. The rest will receive the title of "D" or "F".

These levels are determined based on how each state handles residential project permits: do they reduce costs and simplify processes? Are these processes standardized across the state? Do they use licensed software?

New Jersey Senators John McKeon and Asma stated, "This report clearly states that cutting solar licensing red tape is a low-cost way to help households lower their electricity bills." Robert Karabin Chuck said in a joint statement. Through bipartisan legislative action, New Jersey has passed practical reforms that save time and money for homeowners, installers, and local governments. This is one of the most direct and cost-effective steps that states can take to strengthen the power grid while providing real relief for taxpayers.

In a recent report, Permit Power estimated that by simplifying residential solar permits, the country could save customers $1.2 trillion in utility costs.

Emily Rusch, Senior Director of the State Office at the Center for Environmental Research and Policy in the United States, said, "Millions of Americans hope to provide their homes with sufficient and reliable solar energy; most states have done little to adopt common sense licensing practices to reduce costs and delays. Unreasonable red tape has placed a burden on residents, installers, and local authorities. States should 'move towards solar energy' as quickly and smoothly as possible without compromising health and safety. Opportunities for doing so are abundant.