SolarAPP+ Expansion: Integrating Solar and Storage Virtual Inspections and Automating Residential EV Charger Permitting and Plan Review
Summary
SCH Number
2025100844
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
SolarAPP+ Expansion: Integrating Solar and Storage Virtual Inspections and Automating Residential EV Charger Permitting and Plan Review
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/17/2025
Document Description
The goals of this project are to:
1. Develop and Pilot Virtual Inspection Tools: Create NFPA 915-compliant workflows for remote inspections, enabling faster, more reliable review processes for solar and clean energy technologies.
2. Develop and Pilot Residential EVSE Permitting and Plan Review Tools: Create automated permitting and plan review tools for residential EVSE, integrating utility requirements, fire code compliance, and bidirectional power transfer support to meet California's growing demand for EV infrastructure.
3. Increase Access in Disadvantaged Communities: Prioritize underserved areas to reduce costs, shorten timelines, and expand access to affordable clean energy technologies.
4. Validate and Disseminate Results: Measure the cost, time, and environmental benefits of SolarAPP+ and share insights broadly through methods such as reports and training to support scalability and nationwide adoption.
Contact Information
Name
Ayat Osman
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
EGSSI
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Name
Matthew McAllister
Agency Name
The SolarAPP Foundation
Job Title
Manager
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
San Mateo
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Zip
94070
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306 provides that basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. This project concerns the development and piloting digital tools for virtual inspections and residential EV permitting, which are software-based solutions designed to streamline permitting processes for clean energy projects. These new tools will be tested in SolarAPP+, an online software platform, to collect data regarding virtual inspections of EV installations and improve code compliance. This work will not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. For these reasons, the proposed project will have no significant effect on the environment and is categorically exempt under section 15306.
Additionally, the project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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