SHINE Act of 2026

This bill mandates the Secretary of Energy to create a program aimed at developing and promoting a voluntary streamlined permitting and inspection process for authorities having jurisdiction over qualifying distributed energy systems. These systems encompass residential solar, wind, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging or hydrogen refueling infrastructure, with the goal of expediting and standardizing their installation. The program requires the Secretary to develop an exemplary online permitting platform for permit applications and establish targets for its adoption. It also involves providing technical assistance and training to authorities, alongside developing a voluntary inspection protocol that may include remote or sample-based inspections. The Secretary will offer both technical and financial assistance to support these efforts. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Secretary to establish a certification program for adopting authorities and award prizes to encourage the implementation of the streamlined process and inspection protocol. This initiative aims to significantly improve the efficiency of permitting, inspecting, and interconnecting distributed energy systems, with an authorization of $20,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2030.