lessons learned from solar america cities...
TRANSCRIPT
Ann Dillemuth, AICP, American Planning Association
Vipin Gupta, Sandia National Laboratories
Jason Kambitsis, AICP, City of Pittsburgh
Sara Baldwin, Utah Clean Energy
Lessons Learned from Solar America Cities (S575)
This session has been approved by GBCI for 1 CE; please sign the sheet at the back of the room
For More Information
Visit www.planning.org/research/solar
Email [email protected] with questions about planning for solar energy
Stop by the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership booth in the exhibit hall
Sign up for the Planning and Zoning for Solar Energy training workshop on Tuesday (W456)
Jason Kambitsis, AICP
History of Sustainability in Pittsburgh?
Solar in Pittsburgh?
One of the original 13 Solar America Cities
EPA Green Energy Award
Focus on getting solar on our buildings
City owned facilities
Firehouses
Public Works
Why Firehouses?
City Staff
Solar Hot Water
24 hour buildings
More efficient to buy
Why not Solar PV?
Price
Tax incentive
Solar Buildings and Efficiency
Audits
125 of the 325 City Buildings
Understanding of efficiency vs power source
Buildings with capable roofs
RooSTer (Roadmapping Simulation Tool)
Gives us price and energy saved
Solar Buildings and Efficiency
Stuff
More Stuff
Solar America Cities in Pittsburgh
3 MW
15 Acres of a 40 Acres site
Undevelopable property
Owned by the Housing Authority
City is doing the pre-development
Lease to private entity
Power Purchase Agreement
Solar Field
Solar Pittsburgh
Website: http://solar.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/
Solar America Cities in Pittsburgh
Solar Lessons: San Jose
Solar Lessons: Pittsburgh
Sunshot
Sunshot
Why Do We Care?
www.planpgh.com
Thank You!
“ L e s s o n s L e a r n e d f r o m S o l a r A m e r i c a C i t i e s ” A m e r i c a n P l a n n i n g A s s o c i a t i o n N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e
Sara Baldwin S e n i o r P o l i c y & R e g u l a t o r y A s s o c i a t e
Solar Salt Lake Project
Non-Profit Partner with Salt Lake City for Solar Salt Lake Project and new Wasatch Solar Challenge (both supported by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Project Lead for both efforts
Non-Partisan Policy and Regulatory Work
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
www.utahcleanenergy.org
Photo Credit: NREL
Utah is Indeed a Sunny State
HOWEVER… the numerous barriers to solar energy have historically ‘overshadowed’ our resource
Pre-Solar Salt Lake: State of Solar 2007
Aversion to Change:
• “Utah is a coal state”
• “This is how we’ve always done it…”
• Aesthetic concerns
Regulatory Barriers:
• Two “F” grades for net metering and interconnection
• No state RPS
• Legal uncertainty re: third party financing
• Local codes restrictive and inconsistent
Limited Financial Options:
• Limited incentives
• Limited financing options
• Comparatively low utility costs
Lack of Awareness/Understanding:
• Lack of education across all sectors and departments
• No “1-stop shop” for solar
Solar Salt Lake Project Partners
Phase I Partners (2007-2009) The Salt Lake City Corporation (Project Lead) Utah Clean Energy (Project Manager) Salt Lake County Kennecott Land (part of Rio Tinto) Rocky Mountain Power
Phase II Partners (2010-2012) The Salt Lake City Corporation (Project Lead) Utah Clean Energy (Project Manager) Salt Lake County Ballard Spahr, LLC Interstate Renewable Energy Council Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development Utah State Energy Program Kennecott Land
6
Solar Barriers & Solutions Workshops
Solar Trainings and Educational Forums
Strategic Collaboration among local governments, state government, federal government, non-profits, private sector , solar industry
Involvement in Local, State, and Utility Regulatory Issues utility resource planning, utility solar rebate, net metering, interconnection, third-party financing
Targeted technical analyses from National Labs and Consultants:
Solar on Municipal Bldgs. Feasibility Study (GSBS Architects)
Solar Financing Studies for Govt. Facilities and Residential Solar (Ballard Spahr, Zions Bank Public Finance)
Solar Access Codes and Ordinances Report (Clarion Associates)
Analysis of PV and Battery Storage as Means to Delay and Defer Substation Upgrades (Sandia National Laboratories)
Education, Enrollment, Engagement
Strategies & Tools
Solar Salt Lake Project: Paving the Way for Solar
Solar PV Licensing – 2008
Two ‘As’ for Net Metering & Interconnection - 2010
3rd party financing bill - 2010
Pilot Solar PV Valuation Appraisal Tool
50-60% price declines since 2010
Freeing the Grid (2010) U.S. Department of Energy
Solar Energy Technologies Program
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Residential Solar PV Commercial Solar PV
*
Solar Salt Lake recieves DOE 'Barrier
Buster Award'
Solar Salt Lake recieves DOE
'Mountain Mover Award'
kilo
wat
ts (
kW)
Solar Salt Lake Project: Installed Solar PV Capacity (kW) in Salt Lake City and County (2007-2011)
Utah earns 'A's for Net Metering & Interconnection;
3rd Party Financing enabled
SLC Designated DOE Solar
America City
Solar Salt Lake DOE Phase II - Special Projects
* 2011 data includes projected rebate allocations, State Solar for Schools projects, and known upcoming commercial projects
Salt Lake City Sustainable Code Revision Project
Conducted by Clarion Associates with input from numerous stakeholders
Stakeholders involved: Mayor’s office, city council, city departments, public, solar industry, UCE, Solar Salt Lake Partners
Identify barriers in city’s development codes directly related to 10 sustainability topics
Propose potential revisions to zoning, subdivision, and site development ordinances
Identify priority changes with most significant and long-lasting impacts
Patience is a Virtue
2 year Process
3-Phases
Planning Commission hearings
Historic Landmark Commission hearings
City Council hearings
Public Comment and Open House Forums to solicit feedback
Final Report: http://www.slcclassic.com/slcgreen/code/
2011 – Salt Lake City Ordinance Amendments
Solar excluded from roof ridgeline restrictions:
Not to exceed by more than 3 feet the max building height permitted in the zoning district or more than 12 feet above the roofline of the structure, whichever is less
Allowable on Accessory Structures
Not to exceed 90% of the total roof area of the building
Solar Easements: directs owner to record solar easement with Salt Lake County recorder (in accordance with Utah Solar Access Laws)
Improvements to Solar Process in Historic Districts
The Historic District Challenge
Solar in Historic Districts
Solar is allowed within Historic Preservation Overlay District; required to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness prior to installation
Least visible and obtrusive; causes least impact to historic integrity and character of historic building; maintain efficient operation of the solar device
Location Prioritization => Expedited Process
Location Prioritization
1. Rear yard not readily visible from public right-of-way (not including alleys)
2. On accessory buildings or structures in a location not readily visible from public right-of-way
3. Side yard (not readily visible)
4. On principle building not readily visible from a public right-of-way
5. On a principle building in a location that may be visible from public right-of-way (not on structures’ front façade)
6. On the front façade of principle building in a location most compatible with the character defining features of the structure
Solar Map and Implementation Plan
Solar Map Credit: Kevin Bell, Salt Lake City
http://www.slcgovsolar.com/
Leveraging Partnerships
Images and brochure courtesy of Garbett Homes
http://pv.sandia.gov/pvvalue
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints builds solar meetinghouse in Farmington, Utah
Photo Credits (counter clockwise: Deseret News, KSL.com, Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
"Over the course of the year, we're anticipating a net-zero electricity bill," said Jared Doxey, director of architecture, engineering and construction in the church's Physical Facilities Department. We're expecting to generate as much as we use.“
- “Mormon Church unveils solar powered meetinghouse” (Deseret News, 4/27/10)
Salt Lake County – future home to Utah’s largest Rooftop solar PV installations with 1.65 MW
Lessons Learned
Create and leverage diverse partnerships across all sectors
Develop baseline of understanding – understand the barriers before implementing solutions
Prioritize your actions (what will have the greatest impact?)
Trainings, workshops, and consistent dialogue
Use available support and tools from local, state, and regional solar experts:
Solar industry, U.S. DOE, NREL, IREC, etc.
U.S. DOE Solar Guidebook for Local Governments
Keep pushing the envelope
Patience is a virtue
Brick walls don’t have to be the end of the road…
What’s on the horizon?
Wasatch Solar Challenge - Part of U.S. DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge
Streamline and Standardize Permitting Processes
Expand Financing Options
One-Stop-Shop Solar Website
Develop Model Solar Zoning Guidelines & Model Ordinance
Statewide dissemination
Expanded Utility Solar Incentive Program – October 2012
Outreach to Real Estate Community on Sandia National Laboratories’ PV Solar Valuation Tool
Photo credit: Gail Rainwater
More Resources
Utah Clean Energy: www.utahcleanenergy.org
SunShot Solar Resource Center http://www4.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/resource_center/
Solar Salt Lake Mapping Website: www.slcgovsolar.com/
Solar Implementation Plan & Solar Salt Lake Project:
utahcleanenergy.org/our_work/solar_salt_lake_project
- Salt Lake Sustainable Code Revision Project: http://www.slcclassic.com/slcgreen/code/
- Sandia Solar PV Valuation Tool: http://pv.sandia.gov/pvvalue
Solar America Cities and DOE
Technical Assistance
April 15, 2012
Vipin Gupta, Sandia National Laboratories
Making Solar Mainstream Citywide and Nationwide
Playing as a Local-Federal Team
The DOE Vision from Above, Tiger Team Technical Assistance from Below, Your City right in the middle
Making Tiger Teams Real, Technically Substantive, and Exceptional
Moving towards the National Solar Vision from Today’s Cold, Hard Reality
The people who will serve you and the country
http://www.solaramericacities.org
What is a Tiger Team?
• A group of subject matter experts that temporarily assembles to address a difficult problem.
• A Solar Tiger Team is a multi-institutional group focused on helping your city make solar energy mainstream and serve as a model for other cities to follow.
The most famous Tiger Team Lead was NASA Director Gene Kranz. He, his team, and the Apollo 13 astronauts won the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their heroism.
How does a Tiger Team Work?
A Tiger Team Lead is named and forms a team
consisting of specialists from National Labs,
Universities, Solar Centers, corporations, and local
companies
The Tiger Team Lead is the City’s point of contact
for solar technical assistance
The Tiger Team Lead and DOE GO Project Officer
will work with the City in the first 60 days to
develop a Statement of Work (SOW) and Project
Plan
The Tiger Team will provide the solar technical
assistance to the City within a planned budget and
schedule (on average $200,000 in Year 1, $50,000
in Year 2)
The Tiger Team will not perform any decision-
making for city on construction or installation of
solar systems
What Kind of Technical Assistance can they provide?
Photovoltaics (PV)
Solar Water Heating (SHW)
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
Solar water/air heating technologies (SWAH)
Solar Resource Assessment
Areas of Potential Technical Assistance (1)
Solar Technology Assistance:
• Technology Selection: Determine appropriate technology solutions for desired applications.
• User Training: Ensure appropriate user training for long-term project sustainability.
• Monitoring: Conduct performance monitoring of installed PV systems, through the installation of data acquisition systems, field testing, and remote monitoring.
City/Municipal Planning:
• City Planning: Help incorporate solar into municipal-scale energy, emergency preparedness and environmental plans.
• Regulatory Support: Provide expertise in regulatory issues associated with solar energy systems projects (e.g., zoning, permitting).
• Policy Making Assistance: Contribute “best practices” and technical data to assist cities in making policy decisions.
Market/Financial Support:
• Project Financing: Provide analysis on solar options available and facilitate interface with the financial community.
• Insurance: Provide guidance on insurance issues for solar energy systems.
• Market Analysis and Consumer Behavior: Provide expertise in market trends and consumer behavior.
PV Installer Training
Areas of Potential Technical Assistance (2)
Architectural/Structural Support:
• Building Codes Review: Review city building code and suggest revisions that are “solar friendly.”
• Architecture: Provide architectural expertise to help ensure projects are well integrated into existing and new construction.
• Structural Analysis: Provide expertise in building-mounted solar systems, where issues of weight, wind, and loading must be taken into account.
Technical Project Implementation:
Preparation of bid specifications: Help develop performance specifications for the procurement of residential, commercial, and industrial scale solar energy projects.
Review of bids received.
Communications:
Outreach: Help conduct outreach activities to share “success stories” with city residents and others.
Best Practices: Help develop “best practices” models based on city’s solar experiences that could benefit other Cities.
Tiger team taking power quality measurements
of Xantrex 30 kW inverter in Tucson, AZ.
Examples of Solar Technical Assistance
Best-Practice Guide for the Cities
Outreach
Training
Installers
Code officials
Financial Incentives
Low Interest Loan Programs
Property Tax Incentives
Expedited Permitting
Rules Regulations and Policies
Solar Access Laws
Net Metering and Interconnection Policies
Energy Standards for Public Buildings