joy hughes - california solar gardens
Post on 13-Sep-2014
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DESCRIPTION
SB843 is a bill in the California legislature that will create a program for community owned "solar gardens", to provide solar power for those with shaded roofs, renters, and historic districts. I was to present this in Oakland on Sept. 7, 2011, but was unable to display it due to technical difficulties.TRANSCRIPT
Joy Hughes – Solar Gardens Institute
Sprouting up Everywhere
Maps showing community solar interest
Saguache Solar Garden – 200 kW
A private / public partnership with the Town of Saguache on a former dump site. Subscribers include town buildings, library district, low income.
Charles Tidd, Solar Gardener
Jeffco Open Garden – 500 kW
A privately owned former mine site, divided into parcels of approx. 1 acre. SPH is issuing a Solicitation of Interest for at least four solar gardens on the site.
Rachel Emmer, Solar Gardener
Cost Control
� Minimize fixed cost per solar garden- KISS principle, no bells and whistles
� Ownership models – competitive process
� Minimal software needed for XCEL projects
� Revenue sharing and contingency pay
The Big Test
� CU Denver business students to conduct a test of solar gardens business models
� Considering models from all SGI members
� Analyze costs and benefits to subscribers, hosts, and investors / sponsors
Model for Smaller Arrays: University Park, Maryland LLC
� Legal documents available
FREE
� Limited to 35 members – no advertising
� Good for churches, HOAs, neighborhood associations
� Can be used to power common buildings or as a solar garden
Low and Mid Income Subscribers A Colorado Cooperative
� Small investors provide “sponsorship” for subscribers in any solar garden (including Clean Energy Collective and others)
� Might be used as subscriber organization - third party finance needed ( C3PO ) for tax purposes
� Broad securities exemption under Colorado law
Call for Projects!
� Solar gardens or community supported arrays of any size
� Consulting from the SPH “Dream Team”
� Least cost / best fit ownership models – low overhead
� Use your own equipment / finance / installers – or use ours
SGI’s Mission
� To educate the public about community solar energy.
� To promote community solar energy legislation at the federal level and in each state
� To assist local organizations in organizing, developing, and managing community-owned solar energy projects everywhere.
� To make affordable solar energy available for all humanity
Solar Gardener Program
� A solar gardener is a grassroots community organizer and project manager
� Receive training, tools, mutual aid
� Participate in Governance
� “Sweat Equity” – paid in panels
Original Gardener Gary Nystedt – Ellensburg Community Renewable Park
Legislation in Play
� SB 843 – California “solar gardens”
� Template law for Maryland and more
� SUN Act – Tax credit for subscribers
� Restoration of PACE
A Constitutional Convention for SGI *
* (Like this, but more diverse)
• A mix of industry, hosts, subscribers
• Elect board and officers for SGI
• Adopt mission, founding principles, initial goals
• Establish consent based “dynamic governance”
Member Benefits
� SGI press releases / communications
� Present at colloquia / other events
� Logo on SGI website
� Solar gardener program
� Subscriber connection
� Participate in governance
� Research and legislative analysis
SGI Membership
� Corporate - 500 kW+ $1000
� Integrator - 100-500 kW $500
� Community – under 100 kW $250
� Nonprofit $100
� Individual $25