Can getting a solar permit be as fast as ordering takeout?

Permitting may be the most boring part of solar, but it's also the biggest bottleneck.

That’s what Matthew McAllister is working to fix. As CEO of SolarAPP, he’s leading a quiet revolution that helps installers skip the paperwork and get to work faster with instant, automated approvals.

In this episode, we dive into Matthew’s journey from the West Wing to the frontlines of the clean energy transition. With a background in government technology and big public wins like launching Colorado’s universal preschool platform, he knows what it takes to move bureaucracy at startup speed. Now he’s using that know-how to help solar installers and local governments solve one of the industry’s oldest problems.

We explore how SolarAPP grew from a small NREL pilot into a platform adopted by more than 525 jurisdictions across the country. But the real innovation isn't just instant permits — it's about creating consistency, clarity, and confidence on both sides of the table.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Which soft costs are killing solar’s ability to scale and how SolarAPP is tackling them

🔹 How standardizing permitting helps both installers and local governments

🔹 What public sector trust-building looks like behind the scenes

🔹 Why installers should take another look at SolarAPP’s expanded capabilities

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to streamline solar deployment and scale with confidence.

And for those of you in the USA who are listening to this when it publishes,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is also sponsored by Nextpower!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus