SCCEC provides project document origination and no-cost technical assistance to help local residents and businesses reduce barriers to affordable energy growth. With the help of our team of national and local experts, the Palmetto State and beyond are cutting red tape to make it easier for homes & businesses to the get the energy cost-savings they deserve.

Part of the aim of the South Carolina Clean Energy Community program is to reduce solar soft costs, which currently represent as much as 64% of the total installed residential system price.

Solar soft costs are the non-hardware, balance of system costs associated with solar energy systems.

They are also referred to as “non-hardware costs” and include costs associated with: 

• Planning and zoning

• Permitting, interconnection, and inspection

• Financing

• Customer acquisition

• Installation labor

• Inexperienced Sales Reps Not Educatiors

SCCEC program addresses “solar soft costs,” or business process or administrative costs that can increase the time and money it takes to install a solar energy system — costs which are then passed on to solar customers. While only certain local government procedures (such as permitting, planning, and zoning) are the source of some soft costs, South Carolinian's are in a unique position to reduce soft costs and take action to promote the use of solar locally.