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Board raises concern about solar-permit delays; staff to follow up with Xcel Energy
Summary
Board members said a local solar installer reported slow permit and interconnection timelines tied to Xcel Energy; staff agreed to investigate options and report back, noting oversight by the state Public Utilities Commission could be relevant.
A board member said a local solar contractor told them that Carbondale was among the slowest towns for solar-permit turnaround and that the hold-up appeared to be at Xcel Energy for interconnection and net-metering approvals. "A solar panel installer complained to me that Carbondale was just about the slowest town around as far as getting solar panel permits," the board member said during the utilities update.
Town staff confirmed they would check whether delays are caused locally or by the utility. Scott, a town utilities staff member, said he could ask the building official and try to contact Xcel to determine where the holdup lies. "I'll look into it," he said.
Trustees and board members noted that if Xcel is the bottleneck the issue may be statewide and involve Public Utilities Commission processes; several people said the recent surge in installations and permit applications has strained local and utility review capacity. No formal action was taken; staff said they will follow up and report back to the board or by email.
