There is excitement here at the Central Coast GRID Alternatives office! On August 23rd, our Outreach Coordinator, Sandra Knapp, stood before the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County and presented a permit fee waiver request. Fortunately, it was approved! The county granted the fee waiver because our projects meet a public need, provide a public benefit, and also provide something that is not otherwise available. For example, GRID Alternatives provides multiple benefits such as: reducing homeowner's energy costs by 75-90%, eliminating carbon dioxide emissions, raising property values, and training volunteers/job trainees.
With this approval, $100,000 in installation fees will be waived over a course of 5 years (with an option of reporting back to the Board when we reach $90,000 for a second potential waiver). This will cover permit costs for 33 projects a year and GRID Alternatives will now be able to fund installations for an additional 50-100 homes. This is the first time a county has granted a permit fee waiver to GRID Alternatives, so we're very grateful about this step forward. And also, a great job to Sandra for helping make this happen!
To read more, there is also an article in the San Luis Obispo tribune: click here.
