Fact Sheet: Solar Myths & Misconceptions - The Costs of Going SolarThe Solar Foundation
This document from The Solar Foundation dispels common myths about the costs of solar energy. It summarizes that the upfront costs of solar installations can be challenging but financing options like power purchase agreements or solar leases allow homeowners to adopt solar without large upfront costs. Solar panels have low maintenance needs and typically pay for themselves within 7-15 years, with some areas seeing payback in as little as 5 years. Installing solar can also increase property values and help homes sell faster.
1) Procurement officers play an important leadership role in acquiring goods and services for local governments in an efficient and effective manner. Developing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for novel acquisitions like solar energy systems can be challenging.
2) The document provides examples of two cities' experiences with developing solar RFPs. Milwaukee initially developed restrictive RFPs that received overly expensive bids, but successful RFPs incorporated feedback and made requirements more flexible and outcome-based. San Jose also found success making its RFP more flexible based on stakeholder input.
3) Developing a successful solar RFP involves starting with a clear goal, involving stakeholders early, and including essential elements like system specifications,
Fact Sheet: Solar Myths & Misconceptions - The Costs of Going SolarThe Solar Foundation
This document from The Solar Foundation dispels common myths about the costs of solar energy. It summarizes that the upfront costs of solar installations can be challenging but financing options like power purchase agreements or solar leases allow homeowners to adopt solar without large upfront costs. Solar panels have low maintenance needs and typically pay for themselves within 7-15 years, with some areas seeing payback in as little as 5 years. Installing solar can also increase property values and help homes sell faster.
1) Procurement officers play an important leadership role in acquiring goods and services for local governments in an efficient and effective manner. Developing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for novel acquisitions like solar energy systems can be challenging.
2) The document provides examples of two cities' experiences with developing solar RFPs. Milwaukee initially developed restrictive RFPs that received overly expensive bids, but successful RFPs incorporated feedback and made requirements more flexible and outcome-based. San Jose also found success making its RFP more flexible based on stakeholder input.
3) Developing a successful solar RFP involves starting with a clear goal, involving stakeholders early, and including essential elements like system specifications,
The document provides an overview of three models for community solar projects: utility-sponsored projects, projects sponsored by special purpose entities (SPEs), and non-profit sponsored projects. For utility-sponsored projects, utilities own or operate solar projects that customers can voluntarily participate in by contributing payments upfront or ongoing to support the project in exchange for bill credits proportional to their contribution and the project's electricity production. For SPE models, individual investors form a business to develop a solar project and receive returns through electricity offsets or project ownership. For non-profit models, donors contribute to a solar installation owned by a non-profit and receive no direct financial benefits.
Mike Fisher from Impact7G gave a presentation on solar power in Iowa. He discussed key considerations for communities looking to promote solar such as planning, permitting, financing options and incentives. He described the benefits of reducing soft costs for solar through streamlined processes. Fisher also discussed the Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities (SPARC) program which provides technical assistance and national designation for communities that reduce barriers to solar. He ended by emphasizing the economic, social and environmental benefits of solar energy for communities.
Community associations play a vital role in protecting a homeowner’s investment in their residence and property. In the case of solar energy, association covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) and architectural guidelines can dissuade some owners from pursuing an opportunity to enhance the value of their property while reaping important environmental benefits. Recognizing this, many state legislatures have enacted “solar rights” policies limiting associations’ ability to prohibit or restrict solar energy devices. Often, these state-level provisions are a necessary, but not in themselves sufficient, means of ensuring homeowners have access to solar energy and its benefits. Fortunately, there are a number of relatively simple actions an association can take to encourage solar development without further ceding their authority to impose and enforce rules designed to protect the value and quality of the communities they govern. This guide, written for association boards of directors and architectural review committees, discusses the advantages of solar energy and examines the elements of state solar rights provisions designed to protect homeowner access to these benefits. It then presents a number of recommendations associations can use to help bring solar to their communities, including: (1) improving processes and rules through understanding the technical aspects of solar energy and how restrictions can negatively affect a system’s performance; (2) improving the clarity and specificity of association solar guidelines and making them easily accessible to homeowners, and; (3) convening stakeholder meetings to produce practical guidelines that accurately reflect the needs and values of the community.
This document discusses community solar policies in the Southeast United States. It notes that utilities currently have sole authority for community solar programs, and that third-party competition would require additional legislation in most states. It outlines the community solar and solar policies of different states in the region. Key challenges include legalizing third-party involvement and determining fair rates and credits for solar energy exported to the grid. Potential solutions discussed include utility-sponsored programs, leveraging funding sources, and permitting third parties under certain conditions. Examples of positive community solar programs in North Carolina and South Carolina are provided.
Community solar is the fastest growing segment of the solar industry, allowing customers who cannot install solar panels at their homes to subscribe to offsite solar arrays. The community solar market is expected to grow significantly in coming years as many states have mandated minimum amounts of community solar capacity that utilities must develop. True Green could leverage its experience developing attractive solar deals to become a turnkey provider of community solar projects. Partnering with other companies would help True Green with customer acquisition and management. Emerging models like community choice aggregators and microgrids also present opportunities to apply the community solar model.
The document discusses strategies for deploying solar power in communities, including on schools. It outlines approaches to increase installed solar capacity and access to financing options. It also describes the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership program, which provides resources and technical support to help local governments and stakeholders develop local solar markets. The document contains information on various solar technologies, terminology, and the economic and environmental benefits of solar power.
This whitepaper summarizes recommendations from the Expanding Low-Income Solar in DC Roundtable, hosted by the GW Solar Institute and DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN) on April 9, 2014. Extensive conversations among roughly 70 key stakeholders in the low-income housing, solar, finance, and government sectors revealed that the necessary leadership, consensus, and resources are available to launch a groundbreaking low-income solar initiative in the District.
Compares what solar energy advocates want you to believe to how solar energy performs in real life. Covers costs, efficiency, impact on consumers, solar resources. Discusses Georgia's electricity rates compared to other states and energy mix, Georgia's Territory Act and the potential impact of deregulation, and HB 657.
The document discusses the benefits and risks of community solar installations in the United States. It outlines that community solar presents a new way for more residents to access solar power by forming special entities to purchase shares in solar arrays. The benefits include greater accessibility of solar ownership, distributed generation near demand, and positive local economic impacts. The risks include a lack of common standards, potential utility opposition, and reduction of federal tax credits that currently support solar development. Overall, the document examines if community solar should be a focus of future solar development in the US.
LABC Solar Fit 4 LA presentation to MVCCSherri Akers
The LABC has made this presentation to the MVCC Green Committee and the following motion will be presented to the MVCC Board on Tuesday night Sept 14th.
The Mar Vista Community Council would like to extend our support to the Los Angeles Business
Council/UCLA’s proposed 600 MW Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program for the City of Los Angeles. We agree that the LABC/UCLA proposed program is an important step that our city can take right now to promote renewable energy in Los Angeles.
The LABC/UCLA Solar FiT program has already attracted the strong support of organizations
representing business, labor, the environment and numerous communities from around the city. We are pleased to join this extensive coalition of supporters because we believe the program offers great environmental and economic benefits for Los Angeles and its residents.
This document summarizes testimony to be given to the US House of Representatives regarding opportunities and obstacles for utility-scale solar power. It argues that a distributed generation model focusing on smaller solar installations near demand is a more viable approach than large remote installations. It recommends establishing federal incentives and regulations to support net metering, interconnection standards, and rates to accelerate solar development over the next 10 years while technology improvements continue.
This document explores sustainable funding models for solar workforce training programs as public funding decreases. It notes rapid growth in the solar industry and jobs, but limited and declining public funding for associated training. It proposes three new funding concepts: 1) Public-private partnerships to jointly fund training; 2) Revolving loan funds for trainees that are repaid after employment; and 3) Crowdsourcing training funding from industry. The document aims to facilitate a transition from public to private funding that maximizes efficient allocation of funds to training providers.
This document discusses various aspects of energy infrastructure planning, including electricity generation, transmission, distribution; petroleum pipelines and storage; and relevant legislation. It provides schematics of electricity and petroleum infrastructure networks. It also discusses the deregulation of the electricity industry in the 1990s, the roles of public and private utilities, and issues around nuclear waste storage. Key events that shaped energy policy and markets are summarized such as the 2005 Energy Policy Act and California's renewable energy initiatives.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Erin Stojan Ruccolo, Solar Means Busine...Fresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Which Costs Less? A Surprising Comparison of Utility-Scale, Community, and Ro...John Farrell
Electric utilities often misrepresent the cost of solar energy to serve their own profit interests. The truth? Costs are comparable for utility-scale, rooftop, and community solar––and local solar offers benefits aside from clean electricity, from reducing energy burdens for electric customers to providing resilience in the face of natural disaster. State legislatures should create policies to capture the benefits of all sizes and ownership methods of building more solar energy, but should especially work to undo years of utility misdirection by promoting local solar.
The document provides an overview of three models for community solar projects: utility-sponsored projects, projects sponsored by special purpose entities (SPEs), and non-profit sponsored projects. For utility-sponsored projects, utilities own or operate solar projects that customers can voluntarily participate in by contributing payments upfront or ongoing to support the project in exchange for bill credits proportional to their contribution and the project's electricity production. For SPE models, individual investors form a business to develop a solar project and receive returns through electricity offsets or project ownership. For non-profit models, donors contribute to a solar installation owned by a non-profit and receive no direct financial benefits.
Mike Fisher from Impact7G gave a presentation on solar power in Iowa. He discussed key considerations for communities looking to promote solar such as planning, permitting, financing options and incentives. He described the benefits of reducing soft costs for solar through streamlined processes. Fisher also discussed the Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities (SPARC) program which provides technical assistance and national designation for communities that reduce barriers to solar. He ended by emphasizing the economic, social and environmental benefits of solar energy for communities.
Community associations play a vital role in protecting a homeowner’s investment in their residence and property. In the case of solar energy, association covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) and architectural guidelines can dissuade some owners from pursuing an opportunity to enhance the value of their property while reaping important environmental benefits. Recognizing this, many state legislatures have enacted “solar rights” policies limiting associations’ ability to prohibit or restrict solar energy devices. Often, these state-level provisions are a necessary, but not in themselves sufficient, means of ensuring homeowners have access to solar energy and its benefits. Fortunately, there are a number of relatively simple actions an association can take to encourage solar development without further ceding their authority to impose and enforce rules designed to protect the value and quality of the communities they govern. This guide, written for association boards of directors and architectural review committees, discusses the advantages of solar energy and examines the elements of state solar rights provisions designed to protect homeowner access to these benefits. It then presents a number of recommendations associations can use to help bring solar to their communities, including: (1) improving processes and rules through understanding the technical aspects of solar energy and how restrictions can negatively affect a system’s performance; (2) improving the clarity and specificity of association solar guidelines and making them easily accessible to homeowners, and; (3) convening stakeholder meetings to produce practical guidelines that accurately reflect the needs and values of the community.
This document discusses community solar policies in the Southeast United States. It notes that utilities currently have sole authority for community solar programs, and that third-party competition would require additional legislation in most states. It outlines the community solar and solar policies of different states in the region. Key challenges include legalizing third-party involvement and determining fair rates and credits for solar energy exported to the grid. Potential solutions discussed include utility-sponsored programs, leveraging funding sources, and permitting third parties under certain conditions. Examples of positive community solar programs in North Carolina and South Carolina are provided.
Community solar is the fastest growing segment of the solar industry, allowing customers who cannot install solar panels at their homes to subscribe to offsite solar arrays. The community solar market is expected to grow significantly in coming years as many states have mandated minimum amounts of community solar capacity that utilities must develop. True Green could leverage its experience developing attractive solar deals to become a turnkey provider of community solar projects. Partnering with other companies would help True Green with customer acquisition and management. Emerging models like community choice aggregators and microgrids also present opportunities to apply the community solar model.
The document discusses strategies for deploying solar power in communities, including on schools. It outlines approaches to increase installed solar capacity and access to financing options. It also describes the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership program, which provides resources and technical support to help local governments and stakeholders develop local solar markets. The document contains information on various solar technologies, terminology, and the economic and environmental benefits of solar power.
This whitepaper summarizes recommendations from the Expanding Low-Income Solar in DC Roundtable, hosted by the GW Solar Institute and DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN) on April 9, 2014. Extensive conversations among roughly 70 key stakeholders in the low-income housing, solar, finance, and government sectors revealed that the necessary leadership, consensus, and resources are available to launch a groundbreaking low-income solar initiative in the District.
Compares what solar energy advocates want you to believe to how solar energy performs in real life. Covers costs, efficiency, impact on consumers, solar resources. Discusses Georgia's electricity rates compared to other states and energy mix, Georgia's Territory Act and the potential impact of deregulation, and HB 657.
The document discusses the benefits and risks of community solar installations in the United States. It outlines that community solar presents a new way for more residents to access solar power by forming special entities to purchase shares in solar arrays. The benefits include greater accessibility of solar ownership, distributed generation near demand, and positive local economic impacts. The risks include a lack of common standards, potential utility opposition, and reduction of federal tax credits that currently support solar development. Overall, the document examines if community solar should be a focus of future solar development in the US.
LABC Solar Fit 4 LA presentation to MVCCSherri Akers
The LABC has made this presentation to the MVCC Green Committee and the following motion will be presented to the MVCC Board on Tuesday night Sept 14th.
The Mar Vista Community Council would like to extend our support to the Los Angeles Business
Council/UCLA’s proposed 600 MW Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program for the City of Los Angeles. We agree that the LABC/UCLA proposed program is an important step that our city can take right now to promote renewable energy in Los Angeles.
The LABC/UCLA Solar FiT program has already attracted the strong support of organizations
representing business, labor, the environment and numerous communities from around the city. We are pleased to join this extensive coalition of supporters because we believe the program offers great environmental and economic benefits for Los Angeles and its residents.
This document summarizes testimony to be given to the US House of Representatives regarding opportunities and obstacles for utility-scale solar power. It argues that a distributed generation model focusing on smaller solar installations near demand is a more viable approach than large remote installations. It recommends establishing federal incentives and regulations to support net metering, interconnection standards, and rates to accelerate solar development over the next 10 years while technology improvements continue.
This document explores sustainable funding models for solar workforce training programs as public funding decreases. It notes rapid growth in the solar industry and jobs, but limited and declining public funding for associated training. It proposes three new funding concepts: 1) Public-private partnerships to jointly fund training; 2) Revolving loan funds for trainees that are repaid after employment; and 3) Crowdsourcing training funding from industry. The document aims to facilitate a transition from public to private funding that maximizes efficient allocation of funds to training providers.
This document discusses various aspects of energy infrastructure planning, including electricity generation, transmission, distribution; petroleum pipelines and storage; and relevant legislation. It provides schematics of electricity and petroleum infrastructure networks. It also discusses the deregulation of the electricity industry in the 1990s, the roles of public and private utilities, and issues around nuclear waste storage. Key events that shaped energy policy and markets are summarized such as the 2005 Energy Policy Act and California's renewable energy initiatives.
Fresh Energy's 2013 Power Breakfast | Erin Stojan Ruccolo, Solar Means Busine...Fresh Energy
The first event of a three-part Solar Opportunities Series, Fresh Energy’s annual Power Breakfast outlined new and exciting solar opportunities for business and property owners. Learn more at fresh-energy.org/solarseries.
Which Costs Less? A Surprising Comparison of Utility-Scale, Community, and Ro...John Farrell
Electric utilities often misrepresent the cost of solar energy to serve their own profit interests. The truth? Costs are comparable for utility-scale, rooftop, and community solar––and local solar offers benefits aside from clean electricity, from reducing energy burdens for electric customers to providing resilience in the face of natural disaster. State legislatures should create policies to capture the benefits of all sizes and ownership methods of building more solar energy, but should especially work to undo years of utility misdirection by promoting local solar.
This document discusses recommendations for Salt Lake City to regulate and incentivize solar energy development through zoning ordinances and financial incentives. It covers zoning regulations for accessory solar installations and solar farms, as well as incentive programs for residents and businesses, including rebates, financing options, and economic considerations. The recommendations aim to streamline the permitting process and make solar installations more affordable and widespread.
Consensus Recommendations on How to Catalyze Low-Income Solar in DCGW Solar Institute
This research poster was featured at the 2014 Solar Symposium and is by Amit Ronen and Anya Schoolman.
Extensive conversations among roughly 70 key stakeholders in the low-income housing, solar, finance, and government sectors revealed that the necessary leadership, consensus, and resources are available to launch a groundbreaking low-income solar initiative in the District. The Expanding Low-Income Solar in DC Roundtable, hosted by the GW Solar Institute and DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN) on April 9, 2014, developed the recommendation that the city pursue a direct dollar-per-watt rebate program that incentivizes low-income participation and community solar projects, combined with a credit enhancement program that unlocks needed capital.
Exploring the World of Off-Grid Solar Energy Projects.pdfCIOWomenMagazine
Advantages of Off-Grid Solar Energy Projects: 1. Energy Independence, 2. Environmental Sustainability, 3. Empowering Rural Communities, 4. Cost-Effective.
Werner - Emerging Energy Infrastructure Technologies: Opportunities and Imple...Environmental Initiative
The document discusses emerging energy infrastructure technologies and opportunities for implementation in Minnesota. It provides an overview of electricity sources and generation in MN, including goals for increasing renewable energy. Specific projects to expand transmission lines and increase distributed generation are mentioned. The document also discusses opportunities for local communities to develop local renewable resources, the economic and job benefits of different renewable technologies, and policies that can support renewable energy development.
This document discusses a review of rebate policies for solar PV adoption in the Northeastern United States. It begins with an introduction that outlines the benefits of solar PV generation and the high upfront costs that are a barrier to widespread adoption. It then discusses the role of rebate policies in stimulating demand for residential solar installations by reducing upfront costs. The document provides an overview of existing literature on solar policies including rebates and analyzes installation trends in Northeast states given their rebate programs. It concludes with a benefit-cost analysis of state rebate policies.
This document provides an overview of investor owned utilities (IOUs) in the United States. It discusses how IOUs originated from Thomas Edison's inventions and grew through economies of scale pursued by Samuel Insull. Insull created vast transmission and distribution networks for utilities, allowing generation to reach more customers over greater distances. This enabled utilities to significantly reduce costs through economies of scale. However, the capital-intensive nature of utilities meant they needed high market share and revenue to fund infrastructure investments. The regulatory structure that emerged helped utilities maintain monopolies and secure steady returns to attract this capital.
Community Microgrids: Savings and resilience for local governments (1/25/18)Clean Coalition
Community microgrids can provide cleaner, more reliable and affordable energy while improving resilience. They distribute clean local energy sources like solar across an entire substation area serving thousands of customers. This reduces costs, increases clean energy use, and ensures critical services receive power during disasters. Local governments can explore microgrids for facilities like hospitals, schools and emergency shelters to gain economic, environmental and security benefits for their communities.
2011 fapa conference presentation green economic developmentnzconsultants
The document summarizes a presentation given by Rebecca Grohall, Brandon Schaad, and Nilsa Zacarias at the 2011 APA Florida Conference about the city of Sebastian's approach to sustainable economic development with limited resources. The presentation discusses Sebastian's population growth, demographics, economy, and budget. It also provides examples of sustainable economic development from Germany, the UK, and Florida. The presentation concludes with an overview of Sebastian's sustainable long-term economic development strategy, which focuses on areas like land use, transportation, housing, business support, and attracting green jobs.
SolarCity is analyzing expanding its solar energy operations internationally. Of the countries considered, Brazil presents the highest growth potential due to its large energy demands, emerging middle class, and government support for renewable energy through tax incentives. Expanding into Brazil's growing residential and commercial markets could provide new revenue streams for SolarCity while helping address Brazil's high electricity costs and increasing energy needs in a sustainable way. Risks include potential government corruption and regulatory hurdles. Overall, Brazil appears to be SolarCity's best option for an initial international expansion.
During Q4 2014, there were 64 instances of regulatory activity related to distributed solar PV in 33 states and DC. The majority (28) involved changes to net metering policies, with many states expanding caps or eligibility. 18 actions involved increasing fixed customer charges, primarily by 3 utilities in Wisconsin. 10 states initiated studies of the value of solar or approved utility proposals for utility-owned residential solar programs. Key regulatory decisions on these issues are expected in Q1 2015.
Not everyone can install solar panels on his or her own roof. Many people live in apartments or have roofs that are shaded by trees or other buildings. Shared solar systems, also referred to as community solar or “solar gardens,” have the potential to allow everyone to own their own solar panels. An investor or cooperative member in a shared system receives a credit on his or her electric bill through Virtual Net Metering or a specialized shared solar tariff. Solar gardens have become increasingly popular in the United States, the European Union, and Australia. Shared solar offers the potential to power millions of people in urban areas worldwide, and for rural electrification in developing countries. This is an important tool to conserve fossil fuels and reduce air pollution.
Which Costs Less? A Surprising Comparison of Utility-Scale, Community, and Ro...John Farrell
This document compares the costs of different types of solar energy installations, including utility-scale, community, and rooftop solar. It argues that when accounting for power production costs, delivery costs, and grid savings from reduced transmission and distribution needs, the costs of electricity from solar projects of all sizes are very similar. Utilities sometimes exclude factors like delivery costs and shareholder earnings from their comparisons, making local solar appear more expensive. But fully accounting for costs shows local solar is often as cost-effective as large-scale solar.
Going Solar in America - Ranking Solar's Value to Customers_FINALJim Kennerly
This document summarizes key information about solar PV investments in the United States. It finds that solar PV provides significant monthly energy savings and long-term investment value in 46 of America's 50 largest cities. Specifically, the analysis shows that a typical 5 kW solar PV system offsets 56-79% of average monthly electricity usage in selected cities. Additionally, declining solar PV installation costs combined with rising electricity rates have improved the financial case for solar in many areas, with the average levelized cost of solar already lower than utility rates in 42 large cities. The document aims to increase awareness of solar PV as a realistic option for homeowners seeking to reduce utility bills and make a relatively low-risk investment.
Vote Solar's 2014 Annual Report.
Vote Solar is a grassroots nonprofit organization working to foster economic opportunity, increase energy independence and fight climate change by making solar a mainstream energy resource.
Nj future redevelopment forum 2019 benrey community solarNew Jersey Future
This document provides information about New Jersey's Community Solar Energy Pilot Program. It discusses that the program is administered by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to promote clean energy. It defines community solar as a larger solar array that is divided among multiple subscribers. It outlines the goals, structure, requirements and benefits of the pilot program, such as reserving capacity for low to moderate income projects and allowing subscribers anywhere in a utility territory.
Early architects at UC San Diego envisioned grand plazas and promenades but later focused on more intimate spaces. Today's architects incorporate sustainability. The historic TR Produce building will be renovated by Underground Elephant into a green headquarters, preserving the original brick structure while adding workspaces around live trees. The renovation aims to reduce energy usage and encourage alternative transportation, supporting downtown sustainability goals.
Similar to Solar in Small Communities: Challenges & Opportunities (20)
In September 2014, The Solar Foundation released a report entitled Brighter Future: A Study on
Solar in U.S. Schools. This seminal report found that 3,727 public and private K-12 schools in
the nation have solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, with a combined capacity of 490 megawatts
(MW). This report, released in August 2015, builds on that work and further examines the current state and potential for solar on K-12 schools in Maryland. Chief among the report's findings is that 1,867 public and private K-12 schools in the state could cost-effectively deploy solar energy systems.
Solar employment in North Carolina grew from 3,100 in 2013 to 5,600 in 2014, adding over 200 jobs per month between November 2013 and November 2014. At over 80 percent year-over-year growth, the North Carolina solar industry grew nearly 40 times faster than overall employment in the state.
The Solar Foundation's National Solar Jobs Census 2014 found that the U.S. solar industry employs 173,807 workers, a growth of 21.8% since 2013. Solar employment grew nearly 20 times faster than the overall economy and accounted for 1.3% of new U.S. jobs over the past year. The installation sector remains the largest, more than doubling in size since 2010. If growth continues, the Census predicts 210,060 solar workers within a year, driven by increasing demand before tax credits expire in 2017.
The U.S. solar industry added over 31,000 jobs in 2014, a growth rate of 21.8% which was 20 times faster than the overall economy's growth rate of 1.1%. Solar jobs are projected to grow by 20.9% in 2015, 8 times greater than projected growth in oil, gas, and coal industries combined. One out of every 78 new jobs created in 2014 was from the solar industry.
The U.S. solar industry currently employs nearly 174,000 workers across all 50 states, a growth of 86% over the past 5 years. Solar jobs are being created 20 times faster than the overall economy. In 2014, solar companies expect to add 36,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 20.9%. However, the scheduled reduction of the federal investment tax credit from 30% to 10% for commercial projects poses a threat to future job growth and may cause layoffs, especially in the solar installation sector which employs the most workers.
The document summarizes a report on solar jobs in Minnesota in 2013-2014. It found that:
1) The solar industry in Minnesota employs 864 workers, a 73% increase since 2012, and employers expect to add around 250 jobs (28% growth) by late 2014.
2) Most Minnesota solar establishments are involved in installation (56%) and sales/trade (16%), though manufacturing accounts for 14% of solar jobs.
3) The industry focuses on photovoltaics (81%) and water heating (41%), consistent with national trends.
The document summarizes a report on solar jobs in California in 2013. It finds that California had 47,223 solar workers as of November 2013, concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. Solar employers in California expect to add 10,500 new solar jobs, a growth rate of 22.3%, by November 2014. California has been a leader in solar energy and jobs due to its renewable energy policies like renewable portfolio standards and solar rebate programs, which have led to over 10,000 MW of installed solar capacity, over 40% of the US total.
The solar industry in Arizona saw significant job losses in 2013, declining by over 1,200 workers and 12.7% from the previous year. This is attributed to the completion of large solar projects that drove hiring in prior years. While total solar capacity installed was similar year-over-year, the residential market segment grew more slowly at 13% compared to nearly 94% the prior year. Over a third of Arizona solar employers expect to add jobs in the coming year, but overall employment is projected to grow by only 475 jobs or 5.6% with continued policy uncertainty in the state. The solar workforce in Arizona currently stands at 8,558 workers, down from 9,800 in 2012, with the vast majority employed in installation
Solar jobs exist in all 50 U.S. states and grew nearly 20% in 2013, adding over 24,000 new jobs. California continues to lead the nation with over 47,000 solar jobs, followed by Arizona with 8,558 jobs. While the top four states for solar employment remained the same as 2012, some states experienced significant shifts, with Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Texas all moving up in the rankings. The report provides state-level data on total solar jobs and rankings for 2013 and 2012 for the top 20 states.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2013 found that the U.S. solar industry employed 142,698 workers as of November 2013, an increase of nearly 20% from 2012. Solar jobs are growing ten times faster than the overall economy. The solar industry expects to add over 22,000 new jobs in the next year, a 15.6% growth rate. Installers, which make up over two-thirds of new solar hires, added 12,500 workers in the past year and are expected to increase by nearly 15,000 next year.
The document is a transcript from a conference call discussing the Solar Foundation's National Solar Jobs Census 2013 Report. Some key points:
- The report found that as of November 2013, there were 142,698 solar jobs in the US, up from 119,000 the previous year, an increase of nearly 24,000 jobs.
- The vast majority (90%) of the new jobs were newly created positions rather than existing jobs taking on new solar responsibilities.
- Two-thirds of the new jobs were in the installation sector.
- Nearly half of solar employers expect to hire in 2014, adding around 22,000 new workers, compared to overall US job growth projected at 1.4%.
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This document provides a summary of the 2012 National Solar Jobs Census conducted by The Solar Foundation. Some key findings include:
- As of September 2012, the U.S. solar industry employed 119,016 workers, a 13.2% increase from 2011.
- Installation jobs increased the most over the past year, offsetting declines in manufacturing. Larger installation firms saw more dramatic growth.
- The solar industry is expected to grow employment by 17.2% (around 20,000 new jobs) in the next 12 months.
- Nearly all solar industry subsectors expect double-digit percentage job growth in the coming year. Installation firms anticipate adding around 12,000 new jobs, a 21% increase
The U.S. solar industry continued growing in 2012 despite economic challenges, creating over 13,000 new jobs - 86% of which were new positions. The solar industry's growth rate of 13.2% significantly outpaced the overall economy's rate of 2.3%. Installation jobs grew the most, offsetting declines in manufacturing. The solar industry remains optimistic about continued growth, expecting to add over 45,000 new jobs in the next year.
The U.S. solar industry employs an estimated 100,237 solar workers as of August 2011, up 6.8% from August 2010. Nearly half of solar firms expect to add jobs over the next 12 months, anticipating growth of around 24,000 new jobs and a 24% increase. Solar job growth significantly outpaces overall national employment growth. Installation, manufacturing, sales and distribution, and utility firms all anticipate substantial employment gains in the coming year.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2011 found that the U.S. solar industry employed over 100,000 workers, growing at nearly 10 times the rate of overall U.S. economy job growth. Solar jobs increased by 6,735 over the previous year with expectations of continued growth across sectors like manufacturing, installation, and sales. California led the nation with over 25,000 solar jobs while the top 20 states for solar employment accounted for over 85,000 jobs.
The National Solar Jobs Census 2010 found that as of August 2010:
- The U.S. solar industry employs approximately 93,000 solar workers nationwide.
- Over the next 12 months, solar companies expect to add nearly 24,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 26%.
- Half of solar firms anticipate increasing their workforce over the coming year, while only 2% expect reductions.
This document lists potential 30-year savings from installing solar photovoltaic systems on the roofs of 50 large school districts in the US at installed costs of $2/watt and $2.50/watt. It shows that New York City public schools could save $209-169 million over 30 years, with savings per student of $270-218. Los Angeles public schools could save $91-61 million, with savings per student of $145-96. The largest savings per student were for Hawaii Department of Education at $380-329. Overall, significant savings were projected for many large school districts across the US from installing solar panels on their roofs.
New report finds explosive growth in solar energy use by US schools over past decade, with installed capacity increasing from 303 kW to 457,000 kW. This saves schools $77.8 million annually in utility costs and reduces carbon emissions equivalent to taking nearly 100,000 cars off the road each year. While over 3,700 schools now use solar, providing benefits to 2.7 million students, potential remains for over 40,000 additional schools to install solar.
This document provides a summary of a report on solar power installations at schools in the US. It finds that there are significant financial, educational, environmental, and resiliency benefits to schools adopting solar energy systems. A key finding is that a baseline study identified massive untapped potential for solar power at US schools, with only 2% of schools currently utilizing solar, despite its benefits. The report was a collaborative effort between the Solar Foundation and the Solar Energy Industries Association, with the goal of documenting the benefits of solar energy for schools and growing its adoption.
Combined Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Vessel List.Christina Parmionova
The best available, up-to-date information on all fishing and related vessels that appear on the illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing vessel lists published by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and related organisations. The aim of the site is to improve the effectiveness of the original IUU lists as a tool for a wide variety of stakeholders to better understand and combat illegal fishing and broader fisheries crime.
To date, the following regional organisations maintain or share lists of vessels that have been found to carry out or support IUU fishing within their own or adjacent convention areas and/or species of competence:
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT)
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC)
South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO)
South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO)
Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
The Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List merges all these sources into one list that provides a single reference point to identify whether a vessel is currently IUU listed. Vessels that have been IUU listed in the past and subsequently delisted (for example because of a change in ownership, or because the vessel is no longer in service) are also retained on the site, so that the site contains a full historic record of IUU listed fishing vessels.
Unlike the IUU lists published on individual RFMO websites, which may update vessel details infrequently or not at all, the Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List is kept up to date with the best available information regarding changes to vessel identity, flag state, ownership, location, and operations.
RFP for Reno's Community Assistance CenterThis Is Reno
Property appraisals completed in May for downtown Reno’s Community Assistance and Triage Centers (CAC) reveal that repairing the buildings to bring them back into service would cost an estimated $10.1 million—nearly four times the amount previously reported by city staff.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Food safety, prepare for the unexpected - So what can be done in order to be ready to address food safety, food Consumers, food producers and manufacturers, food transporters, food businesses, food retailers can ...
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This report explores the significance of border towns and spaces for strengthening responses to young people on the move. In particular it explores the linkages of young people to local service centres with the aim of further developing service, protection, and support strategies for migrant children in border areas across the region. The report is based on a small-scale fieldwork study in the border towns of Chipata and Katete in Zambia conducted in July 2023. Border towns and spaces provide a rich source of information about issues related to the informal or irregular movement of young people across borders, including smuggling and trafficking. They can help build a picture of the nature and scope of the type of movement young migrants undertake and also the forms of protection available to them. Border towns and spaces also provide a lens through which we can better understand the vulnerabilities of young people on the move and, critically, the strategies they use to navigate challenges and access support.
The findings in this report highlight some of the key factors shaping the experiences and vulnerabilities of young people on the move – particularly their proximity to border spaces and how this affects the risks that they face. The report describes strategies that young people on the move employ to remain below the radar of visibility to state and non-state actors due to fear of arrest, detention, and deportation while also trying to keep themselves safe and access support in border towns. These strategies of (in)visibility provide a way to protect themselves yet at the same time also heighten some of the risks young people face as their vulnerabilities are not always recognised by those who could offer support.
In this report we show that the realities and challenges of life and migration in this region and in Zambia need to be better understood for support to be strengthened and tuned to meet the specific needs of young people on the move. This includes understanding the role of state and non-state stakeholders, the impact of laws and policies and, critically, the experiences of the young people themselves. We provide recommendations for immediate action, recommendations for programming to support young people on the move in the two towns that would reduce risk for young people in this area, and recommendations for longer term policy advocacy.
Monitoring Health for the SDGs - Global Health Statistics 2024 - WHOChristina Parmionova
The 2024 World Health Statistics edition reviews more than 50 health-related indicators from the Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work. It also highlights the findings from the Global health estimates 2021, notably the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on life expectancy and healthy life expectancy.
About Potato, The scientific name of the plant is Solanum tuberosum (L).Christina Parmionova
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Synopsis (short abstract) In December 2023, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 30 May as the International Day of Potato.
UN WOD 2024 will take us on a journey of discovery through the ocean's vastness, tapping into the wisdom and expertise of global policy-makers, scientists, managers, thought leaders, and artists to awaken new depths of understanding, compassion, collaboration and commitment for the ocean and all it sustains. The program will expand our perspectives and appreciation for our blue planet, build new foundations for our relationship to the ocean, and ignite a wave of action toward necessary change.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Working with data is a challenge for many organizations. Nonprofits in particular may need to collect and analyze sensitive, incomplete, and/or biased historical data about people. In this talk, Dr. Cori Faklaris of UNC Charlotte provides an overview of current AI capabilities and weaknesses to consider when integrating current AI technologies into the data workflow. The talk is organized around three takeaways: (1) For better or sometimes worse, AI provides you with “infinite interns.” (2) Give people permission & guardrails to learn what works with these “interns” and what doesn’t. (3) Create a roadmap for adding in more AI to assist nonprofit work, along with strategies for bias mitigation.
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Solar in Small Communities: Challenges & Opportunities
1. www.TheSolarFoundation.org June 19, 2012
Solar in Small Communities: Challenges and Opportunities
As local governments across the U.S. become increasingly aware of the considerable benefits of solar energy, many of them
are taking action to help residents and business owners in their jurisdictions overcome various barriers inhibiting the
adoption of solar. In an effort to understand these barriers and the actions local governments are taking to confront them,
the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) conducted its Solar Survey of Local Governments in 2011,
collecting data from over 2,500 local governments. Respondents reported experiencing several significant challenges to local
solar energy development. The most commonly reported barrier to solar energy development is the high initial cost of going
solar, with nearly two thirds of survey respondents (64%) citing this as a challenge. Approximately one in three local
governments face additional challenges, including aesthetic concerns regarding solar installations (29%) and a lack of interest
in or awareness about solar (27%).1
For larger local governments with greater financial resources, there are a number of options available for overcoming these
barriers. Nearly one-fifth (17%) of city and county governments offer some sort of financial support for going solar, typically
in the form of rebates, grants, or loans.2
Additionally, many large cities have robust and well-funded solar outreach programs
touting the benefits of, and stimulating interest in, solar energy. Though these strategies often prove effective, they
frequently require large financial, informational and human resources, begging the question: What options are available for
small communities (typically with smaller budgets) seeking to address barriers to local solar development?
This brief outlines several strategies smaller governments can use to promote the use of solar in local communities and
provides examples and resources illustrating how these concepts have been or are currently being implemented in small local
jurisdictions across the country.
Addressing the High Cost of Solar
Community Shared Solar
The defining characteristic of a “community shared solar” project is that, as
opposed to the traditional model of an on-site solar installation with a
single beneficiary, these are relatively large solar electric systems with
benefits shared among multiple individuals. In certain arrangements,
participants in a community shared solar project receive benefits from the
system in proportion to their level of financial commitment to the project
(i.e., those who cover a greater percentage of the system cost or purchase
more “shares” in the project receive more credit for the electricity the
system generates). In states that allow group billing or virtual net metering,
credits for the electricity the local utility receives from the community
shared solar project are applied to each participant’s monthly electricity
bill.
Ribbon Cutting at Acorn Energy Solar One in Middlebury, VT
Photo courtesy of Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op
2. The Solar Foundation
575 7th
Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org
Although it is not an option everywhere, small local governments and communities can help promote solar by serving as a
host for, or as a co-financier of, a community shared solar project. The town of Middlebury, Vermont (2010 Population:
6,588) serves as one of many examples of how a small community can support a community shared solar project. The 148
kilowatt (kW) solar electric project is a joint venture between the Town of Middlebury, the Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op,
and the Co-operative Insurance Companies of Middlebury. The project is being financed jointly by the Acorn Renewable
Energy Co-op and Co-operative Insurance. The town will support the project by hosting the system on an acre of town-owned
land through a 25-year lease under which it will receive $1,000 annually in rent. Each of the three parties will receive a one-
third share of the total electricity the system generates, estimated at 172,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) each year, or enough to
meet average electricity demand for over 30 U.S. homes. The Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op’s share of the electricity will be
divided among over a dozen individual program subscribers.3
Key Resources:
A Guide to Community Shared Solar: Utility, Private, and Non-profit Project Development
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/54570.pdf
Community Renewables: Model Program Rules
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IREC-Community-Renewables-Report-11-16-10_FINAL.pdf
Group Purchasing
As with most other products, purchasing solar equipment and installation services in bulk can help drive down unit costs.
By helping groups of homeowners negotiate volume discounts with solar contractors, small cities and counties can support
solar development at little or no cost to the local government.
A number of small communities in Massachusetts have demonstrated the effectiveness of group purchasing of solar energy
systems through their recent participation in the Solarize Massachusetts pilot program. An effort spearheaded by the
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the Solarize Massachusetts pilot selected contractors through a competitive
Request for Proposal (RFP) process that required installers to offer volume discounts on solar energy systems purchased and
installed through the program. By offering bulk purchase prices that fell as the number of program participants grew, the
Solarize Massachusetts pilot was able to deliver significant discounts to program participants. In the town of Harvard,
Massachusetts (2010 Population: 6,520), volume discounts reached as high as 30% off the average installed residential
system cost.4
Key Resource:
The Solarize Guidebook: A Community Guide to Collective Purchasing of Residential PV Systems
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/54738.pdf
Page 2
3. The Solar Foundation
575 7th
Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org
Site Aggregation and Regional Collaboration
Group purchasing can also help reduce costs for local governments seeking to adopt solar themselves. By aggregating
multiple municipally-owned properties in one or more jurisdictions and putting these bundled sites out to bid to solar
developers, local governments can significantly reduce the initial purchase and installation price of systems while decreasing
transaction costs and staff time requirements.5
Furthermore, by banding together with other municipalities, small
communities seeking to install solar on local government buildings can in some cases obtain various grants and incentives for
which they would otherwise be ineligible.6
In 2009, nine small municipalities in Prince George’s County, Maryland (ranging in population from a few hundred to just
over nine thousand), collaboratively developed a “Solar Energy Recovery Plan” to install a 20 kW photovoltaic system on a
municipal building in each participating jurisdiction. By creating this partnership, these communities were able to qualify for
Recovery Act funding that would otherwise have been out of reach. Once the group received the award, the project was put
out to bid under a combined process, in which some municipalities were allowed to “piggyback” on other approved
procurement processes.7
These solar energy systems generate over 200,000 kWh of clean electricity and deliver significant
energy cost savings, which have been used to establish an energy assistance fund for senior citizens and support educational
scholarships.8
Key Resource:
Purchasing Power: Best Practices Guide to Collaborative Solar Procurement
World Resources Institute and Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
http://pdf.wri.org/purchasing_power.pdf
Overcoming Aesthetic Concerns
Solar-Ready Building Guidelines
A local government can help mitigate the aesthetic concerns associated with solar development by encouraging (or even
requiring) that new homes built within its jurisdiction be “solar ready”. While primarily designed to maximize the
performance of solar energy systems and to minimize installation costs, solar ready provisions can also help preserve the
aesthetic value of buildings that go solar. Requiring new homes to include plumbing or wiring for solar energy systems will
not only help reduce future installation costs, but will preclude the need
for visually unappealing piping or electrical equipment on the building’s
exterior.9
Ensuring that homes are properly oriented to maximize solar
exposure and that roofs are designed with solar in mind both improves
system performance and allows solar to be tastefully integrated with the
building’s design.10
A number of small communities in Marin County, California have
recently recognized the importance of encouraging solar-ready
development. The towns of Tiburon (2010 Population 8,962), Ross
(2,415), and Belvedere (2,068) have each begun developing local Climate
Action Plans. Plan developers have recommended that each town
establish policies and incentives that promote the construction of solar-
ready residences and businesses.11, 12, 13
Page 3
Rooftop solar installed through Solarize Pendleton
Photo courtesy of City of Pendleton, OR
4. The Solar Foundation
575 7th
Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org
Key Resources:
Solar Ready: An Overview of Implementation Practices
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51296.pdf
Solar Ready Buildings Planning Guide
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/46078.pdf
Promoting Interest and Awareness
City Solar Outreach Programs
Municipalities can overcome a lack of interest or awareness regarding solar among residents by conducting city- or town-
wide outreach programs. These programs are effective when included in a facilitated group purchasing campaign, such as
Solarize Massachusetts (see page 2) or the several successful Solarize programs in Oregon (detailed in The Solarize Guidebook
listed on page 2). By doing so, local governments with limited resources can pass on much of the responsibility for marketing
and educational outreach to community groups or to the contractor selected for the program.14
In addition to informing the
public on the benefits and process of going solar, communities must maintain consumer motivation to follow through with
their desire to go solar. This can be done by setting a deadline for applications to the program (thus motivating residents to
act quickly) and by following up as quickly as possible with homeowners who express interest in the program. 15, 16
The city of Pendleton, Oregon (2010 Population 16,612), through its Solarize Pendleton campaign, promoted awareness of
solar and of the program it offered and kept its residents motivated throughout the process. Unable to assume the bulk of
the responsibility for marketing the campaign and conducting educational workshops, Pendleton assigned these tasks to the
program’s contractor. Through a small increase in the purchase and installation rates it offered, the contractor was able to
fund the program website, run ads in local newspapers, and conduct public workshops promoting the program.17
Other Opportunities for Small Communities
Streamlined and Expedited Permitting
According to the ICMA Solar Survey, only 13% of local governments have established expedited permitting rules for solar
photovoltaic installations. Unnecessarily complex or inconsistent permitting requirements can add as much as $2,500 to the
overall installation cost of residential solar energy systems.18
By establishing reasonable flat permit fees, accepting permit
applications online or via an accelerated “over-the-counter” process, standardizing permit requirements, and ensuring
permitting staff are properly trained in solar, small counties and municipalities can remove barriers to the adoption of solar.19
The town of Fountain Hills, Arizona (2010 Population: 26,107) provides residents seeking to install solar energy systems on
their homes with a “Solar System Plan Review/ Inspection Checklist”, which provides details on the process and
documentation requirements for obtaining a solar permit. The process is designed to deliver a decision on the application in
no more than two business days, helping to keep wait times and costs low.20
Page 4
5. The Solar Foundation
575 7th
Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org
Key Resource:
Permitting Toolkit
The Vote Solar Initiative
http://votesolar.org/permitting-toolkit/
Sharing Success: Emerging Approaches to Efficient Rooftop Solar Permitting
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-Sharing-Success-w-cover-revised-final052012.pdf
Local Regulations
Updating local regulations that affect solar development can be another effective means by which city and county
governments can encourage community members to go solar. By protecting residents’ solar rights (the right to install a solar
energy system on one’s property) and solar access (through easements that prevent neighboring structures or vegetation
from shading these systems), local governments can resolve some simple,
though common, challenges to solar development. Additionally, small
governments can update local ordinances or codes to promote solar
development by adopting provisions requiring that new property lots are
drawn to maximize solar exposure, or by encouraging or requiring certain
new or remodeled buildings to be “solar ready”.
The village of Belleville, Wisconsin (2010 Population: 2,385) has
established procedures for issuing solar access permits that establish the
right of the permit holder to access sunlight for the purposes of harnessing
solar energy. To protect this access, these permits set restrictions on
activities on neighboring properties that could create an “impermissible
interference” with the solar energy system’s ability to collect sunlight.21
Key Resource:
Planning and Zoning for Solar Energy
American Planning Association
http://www.planning.org/pas/infopackets/open/pdf/30intro.pdf
Page 5
Volunteer helps promote the Solarize Massachusetts campaign
Photo courtesy of John Sharko
6. The Solar Foundation
575 7th
Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org
This brief is supported by the following team of organizations: ICLEI-USA; International City/County Management Association (ICMA); Solar
Electric Power Association (SEPA); Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC); North Carolina Solar Center (NCSC); Meister Consultants
Group, Inc. (MCG); The Solar Foundation (TSF); American Planning Association (APA); and National Association of Regional Councils (NARC).
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0003525.
This brief was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government
nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for
the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not
infringe on privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark,
manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States
Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United
States Government or any agency thereof.
1
ICMA. Solar Survey of Local Governments 2011. Available online at
http://icma.org/en/Article/101799/Survey_Results_Shed_Light_on_Solar_Energy_Challenges_Opportunities
2
Ibid
3
Vermont Business Magazine. Acorn Energy Co-Op $700,000 solar project moves forward in Middlebury. Available at
http://www.vermontbiz.com/news/october/acorn-energy-co-op-700000-solar-project-moves-forward-middlebury
4
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Solarize Mass Pilot Overview. Available at
http://www.masscec.com/masscec/file/Solarize%20Massachusetts%20Pilot%20Overview.pdf
5
Arizona State University. Leveraging Your Purchasing Power: Regional Renewable Energy Procurement. Available at
http://sustainablecities.asu.edu/docs/SCN/01-13-11/Optony_SCN.pdf
6
Prince George’s County, Maryland. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy Report. Available at
http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/der/PDFs/energy-report-ch5.pdf
7
Bladensburg Police Department. Collaboration of Municipalities: Solar Energy Recovery Plan (SERP). Available at
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/solutioncenter/pdfs/12_Multi%20Municipal%20Solar%20Grant_EECBG-SEP%20MA%20Meeting.pdf
8
Prince George’s County, Maryland. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy Report. Available at
http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/der/PDFs/energy-report-ch5.pdf
9
California Utilities Statewide Codes and Standards Team. Measure Information Template – Solar Ready Homes and Solar Oriented
Developments. Available at http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/prerulemaking/documents/2011-05-
24_workshop/review/2013_CASE_ResSolarReady_SolarOrientedDevelopments_052011.pdf
10
The Minneapolis Saint Paul Solar Cities Program. Solar Ready Building Design Guidelines. Available at
http://mn.gov/commerce/energy/images/Solar-Ready-Building.pdf
11
Town of Tiburon, California. Climate Action Plan: April 2011. Available at
http://www.ci.tiburon.ca.us/government/guidelines%20&%20ordinances/guidelines%20&%20handbooks/CAP-Tiburon-Final.pdf
12
Town of Ross, California. Climate Action Plan: November 2010. Available at
http://www.townofross.org/pdf/town_planning/Ross%20Climate%20Action%20Plan.pdf
13
City of Belvedere, California. Climate Action Plan: April 2011. Available at http://www.cityofbelvedere.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/508
14
US Department of Energy. The Solarize Guidebook: A Community Guide to Collective Purchasing of Residential PV Systems. Available at
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/54738.pdf
15
Ibid
16
City of Pendleton, Oregon. Solarize Pendleton: Lessons Learned. Available at http://solarizependleton.com/main/wp-
content/uploads/2012/01/LESSONS-LEARNED.pdf
17
US Department of Energy. The Solarize Guidebook: A Community Guide to Collective Purchasing of Residential PV Systems. Available at
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/54738.pdf
18
Greentech Solar. Has Vermont Solved the Solar Permitting Problem? Available at http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/has-
vermont-solved-the-solar-permitting-problem/
19
The Vote Solar Initiative. Streamlining the Solar Permitting Process: Solar Permitting Best Practices. Available at http://votesolar.org/linked-
docs/Best%20Practices.pdf
20
Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona. Solar Systems Expedited Permit Process. Available at http://www.fh.az.gov/solar-permits.aspx
21
Village of Belleville, Wisconsin. Solar Access. Available at http://www.bellevillewi.org/site_uploads/pdfs/TITLE%2010-4.pdf
Page 6