SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The state urgently needs to assist local jurisdictions in the deployment of clean energy distributed generation technology.
(b) The state can assist local jurisdictions in deploying this technology by developing statewide building standards and recommendations for the installation of basic solar equipment on residential and commercial property.
(c) Electricity generated from solar power can assist the state in solving an array of environmental and economic problems related to energy production, including, but not limited to, assisting the state in reaching its environmental goals.
(d) In recent years, the state has both encouraged the development of innovative distributed generation technology and prioritized the widespread adoption of solar power as a renewable energy resource.
(e) To assist local jurisdictions and reach state environmental goals, it is imperative that the California Building Standards Code addresses technological advances through appropriate building standards for the installation of solar distributed generation technology and that local jurisdictions receive guidance on how to apply those standards and policies to ensure safe, reasonable, and consistent code enforcement.
(f) A streamlined, consistent process for installations of solar distributed generation technology on residential and commercial property will eliminate unnecessary waste and variability across jurisdictions, reduce the cost of solar power, increase the deployment of solar distributed generation technology, provide solar customers with greater installation ease, and generate much needed jobs in the state, all while maintaining safety standards.