Permitting Made Easy
To permit a grid-connected, renewable energy system in Vermont, it is necessary to obtain a Certificate of Public Good (CPG) from the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB). The application process is free, and AllEarth Renewables handles all of the document preparation and filing required for your AllSun Tracker.
Where to start
To complete the CPG, AllEarth Renewables will provide details of the photovoltaic system and its physical location. This includes the PV module manufacturer, model number, number of panels, and the inverter manufacturer and model number. The Public Service Board requires that copies of the CPG application be sent to the Vermont Department of Public Service, the Planning Division of the Agency of Natural Resources, the homeowner’s utility, local planning commission, local select board, and all adjoining property owners.
After submitting the application, there is a 30-day period that gives all notified parties an opportunity to raise objections to the project as planned. The PSB then determines if the objection has merit, and if so, calls a technical hearing. If there is no objection, the project is generally approved. Once a CPG has been issued by the PSB, local zoning and planning regulations no longer have jurisdiction over the process.
The CPG process continues to be a success in Vermont because it streamlines the permitting process by eliminating the variable of local zoning practices, while still allowing concerns at the local level to be addressed.