The Commercial Energy Code TAG voted to expand compliance options for commercial rooftop solar requirements, including allowing projects without adequate roof area to pay into a state affordable‑housing solar fund or to fund arrays on affordable housing projects instead of installing on‑site solar.

The language approved Friday (vote 11‑1 with two abstentions) keeps the code’s priority that on‑site solar be installed where feasible but creates clearer alternative paths for projects with constrained roofs. It also instructs jurisdictions to treat contributions to the renewable investment fund as the functional equivalent of a power purchase agreement for compliance purposes.

“We have this table that’s a higher dollar per watt amount for smaller systems,” proponent Dwayne Johnlin said of the in‑lieu fee schedule he brought forward. The TAG adopted a scaled fee table so that very small systems would pay a higher per‑watt fee when they choose the in‑lieu fund, reflecting higher per‑watt installed cost on those projects.

The proposal requires projects to first “comfortably” build the solar that fits on the roof — measured as net roof area that excludes obstructions and steep slopes — before pursuing off‑site options. TAG members also added the Washington State Housing Finance Commission as a qualified recipient and asked staff to treat approved renewable investment funds as a PPA when computing compliance credit.

Solar industry members supported the package while asking the TAG to allow steeper pitched roofs (up to about an 8:12 slope) for arrays. The TAG kept steeper roofs optional rather than required, citing architectural impacts on visible pitched roofs.

Action: the motion to approve the revised rooftop solar exceptions and in‑lieu fund language passed 11‑1 with two abstentions. TAG members asked staff to work with utilities and the state housing finance commission on administration details and to ensure the in‑lieu schedule is updated if markets change.