1. DOE SunShot Initiative
Rooftop Solar Challenge
Catherine Wilt, Research Director
University of Tennessee
June 27, 2013

2. Overview
• SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge, Phase I summary
• Phase I Goals and Partners
• Phase I Outcomes
• Recent Events
• SunShot RSC Phase II proposal overview

3. SunShot Phase I Summary
• The Tennessee SunShot effort was one of 22 projects in the US funded with a
DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge grant
• DOE estimates that 35% of installation costs are due to non-hardware costs.
SunShot goals relate to reducing “soft costs” associated with rooftop solar:
– Improve market conditions for Rooftop Solar
– Streamline and standardize permitting processes
– Reduce market barriers to increase Solar adoption
– Facilitate participation of local governments, utilities, and organizations
• The Tennessee SunShot effort focused on:
– Permitting and interconnection processes
– Financing
– Planning and zoning issues
– Net metering and interconnection standards

5. Key Findings
• Improvements came from process efficiencies
• Streamlined municipal review process
• Proposed streamlined parallel process for <10kw
• Consistent communications often did not exist among
local stakeholders
• Change in signature processes cut delays
• Financing does not appear to be a deterrent
• Current issues include how to value a PV system during
property transfers

6. DOE Evaluation of Progress
• DOE NREL Solar Metrics market assessments for each
jurisdiction submitted at beginning of project (Feb 2012)
• Completed with municipalities and distributors, with
industry verification
• Solar Metrics market assessments performed again and
submitted to DOE NREL at project end (Feb 2013)
• Again, completed with municipalities and distributors,
with industry verification
• Significant improvements according to DOE NREL Solar market
assessments:
• 75% improvement in the overall team score

7. Recent Deliverables
• A dozen white papers, covering an assortment of
Solar related topics, all of which are on the project site
at: sites.google.com/site/sunshottn
• Recent Franklin water treatment facility case study
• Memphis BioWorks parking garage case study
• A Rooftop Solar App for iOS and Android devices
• Tennessee Solar conference in Chattanooga (April
2013)

8. The Rooftop Solar
Smartphone App
The University of Tennessee is developed an
industry first mobile application to help grow
the Solar Economy across the Tennessee
Valley.

9. Why A Rooftop Solar App?
Since the SunShot Goals are to…
• Improve market conditions for Rooftop Solar
• Streamline and standardize permitting processes
• Reduce market barriers to increase Solar adoption
• Encourage partnerships of local governments, utilities, and
organizations
• Facilitate participation by diverse entities
We envisioned a Rooftop Solar App that
would…
• Be a dependable source of Solar information for the Tennessee Valley
• Echo policies of local governments, planning agencies, HOAs
• Offer local permitting processes provided based on user GPS
• Act as a directory of consumer-oriented Solar service providers
• Refer to certified installers, realtors, lenders and other Solar
professionals
• Facilitate public and stakeholder participation with social media

10. Engage All Solar Stakeholders
The app will attempt to bring together consumers and solar industry professionals in a way to improve
the Solar Economy in the Tennessee Valley. The Rooftop Solar App serves three main areas:
An educational tool that
property owners can use to
make informed decisions as
they learn more about Rooftop
Solar.
Clarifies Solar permitting,
installation, and generation
processes with insights into the
functions of Solar service
providers, local government
agencies, and utilities.
SolarEducation
Engage consumers and all
solar stakeholders in dialogue
of topical Rooftop Solar issues,
barriers and best practices.
Through extended public
interaction the app will serve
as a dynamic research tool that
will better inform solar policy
to reduce barriers to Solar
Adoption.
SolarInteraction
Connect consumers and solar
industry professionals in a way
to encourage growth in the
Solar Economy.
Encourage consumers to adopt
Solar by facilitating an entry
point with certified Solar
installers, realtors, lenders, and
local government agencies.
SolarEconomy

11. Tennessee Solar Summit (April 2013)
Day 1
• Phase I Jurisdictions
• Mobile Application
• Breakout sessions
• Matt Brown from TVA
• Amy Bunton from Pathway
Lending
• Mayor Talley from Ducktown
• Justin Barnes from NCSC
• Ted Wampler
Day 2
• Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
• John Hopkins from TN Score
• Panel facilitated by Dr. Bruce Tonn
• TenneSEIA’s Gil Hough
• State of TN’s Molly Cripps
• NCSC’s Justin Barnes
• TVA’s Patty West
• ICMA session: Integrating Solar
into Local Plans
• Solar Tour of Chattanooga Airport

12. SunShot Phase II Proposal
• UT submitted a Phase II concept paper to DOE in
January
• Essentially propose to extend the Phase I project area to
the entire the TVA service region
• DOE invited a full proposal, which was submitted on
March 21
• Decision was expected by late May, but…

14. Additional Partners
• Univ. of Alabama at Huntsville, Redstone Energy, Mississippi
State Univ., Western Kentucky Univ., NASEO, Brooks
Engineering, Simplikate & Vergence
• Association of TN Valley Governments
• Five State Energy Offices (TN, MS, AL, NC, KY)
• TenneSEIA
• NC Solar Center
• Sandia National Laboratories
• TREEDC
• ICMA
• TAPA

15. Anticipated Phase II Outcomes
• Continue work with partner communities to understand and
reduce barriers associated with Solar
• Address unique issues in small and rural communities
• Work with the planning community to share best practices,
model zoning, relaxed constraints, etc.
• Work with local governments to prepare for Solar growth
• Work with real property professionals to expand knowledge
base for valuation of solar properties
• Develop case studies, white papers, create PSAs and
educational materials of interest to stakeholders
• And expand the Rooftop Solar App…

16. STAY IN TOUCH
UT – SunShot Online
Catherine Wilt
Address:
University of Tennessee
311 Conference Center Bldg.
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
Phone:
865 - 974 - 1915
Email:
catwilt@utk.edu
f facebook.com/RooftopSolarTN
t twitter.com/RooftopSolarTN
sites.google.com/site/SunShotTN
Share your Solar thoughts and experiences with the
Tennessee Valley community as together we work
for a Solar-powered future.
Participate with the SunShot Rooftop Solar effort
across several social media platforms.