peter mandelstam, executive director september 26, 2017

Solar Simplified Peter Mandelstam, Executive Director

September 26, 2017

The Annual Conference of the Connecticut Housing Coalition

1. GRID Alternatives Vision and

Mission

2. GRID Alternatives Impact

3. Free Technical Assessment

Program

4. Our work in Connecticut

5. Project Example in Norwalk

6. Typical Solar Project Workflow

Vision:

A successful transition to clean energy that includes everyone

Mission:

Make renewable energy technology and job training accessible to underserved communities

Vision and Mission

Who We Are

• The country’s largest nonprofit solar installer.

• GRID trains and leads job trainees and other volunteers to install solar for low income families (defined as having a size-adjusted household income of 80% or less of Area Median Income) who most need the savings, but have the least solar access.

• Previous focus on low income single-family homes. Current focus on multifamily housing and community solar. Serving CT, NJ and NY.

• Workforce development on every installation, plus energy efficiency offered through our partnership with the Association for Energy Affordability (AEA).

History • Founded in 2001

• First solar installations in 2004 in the San Francisco Bay Area

• Expanded to seven offices throughout California

• Now offices in New York Tri-State, Mid-Atlantic, and Colorado

• States served: CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, and VA

• Tribal Solar Initiative

• International Program, with an office in Nicaragua

“Triple Bottom Line”

GRID Alternatives strongly believes in its triple bottom line:

People: Long-term savings for working families struggling to keep up with energy expenses. Planet: Reduced global warming emissions, while ensuring that low income families have access to clean, sustainable affordable power. Employment: Real-world, hands-on training and experience to help workers access jobs in the rapidly growing solar industry. Success in GRID trainees getting private-sector solar jobs.

GRID’s Growing Impact

Systems Installed: 9,095

kW Installed Lifetime Savings

Participants Trained Tons of Greenhouse Gas

Emissions Prevented

33,883 $330,897,465 33,999 851,175

The Technical Assistance Process

Intro Meeting/Call with Multifamily Building Owner, Get Property

Address List

GRID Performs Quick Remote Site Assessment with just a list of Property Addresses

Submit Initial Site Assessment Report

Request Utility Bill and Basic Site Data

Respond with a Cost Analysis and Proposal for GRID to install, if appropriate

Affordable Solar Challenges 1)Suniva Decision at U.S. International Trade

Commission.

2)SEIA estimates lose of 88,000 Jobs.

3)Solar Panel Price Volatility.

4)Reduction / Step Down of Solar Tax Credit.

5)Tax Reform Likely to Reduce Value of Remaining Tax Credits.

Our work in Connecticut

Who Benefits?

• Low-income renters

• Affordable Housing providers

What GRID Does:

• Technical assistance

• Design, permitting, interconnection, complete installation, all exclusively by GRID staff, with no third party vendors.

• Engagement with residents

Multifamily Installation

Partnerships

• Community-based solar nonprofit advocates

• Regional energy cooperatives

• State Green Banks (CTGB)

• Community college & job training partners

• Affordable housing providers

• Energy efficiency/ weatherization installers

• For-profit solar firms

• Local utilities

• Local governments

80 Fair Street Norwalk, CT

80 Fair Street Norwalk, CT

Project Details

• 57 families served

• 51.8 kilowatts

• 65,740 kWh/year production

Project Partners:

• CT Green Bank

• New Neighborhoods, Inc.

• Norwalk Community

College

• Wells Fargo

• nrg Energy

• Ardsley Partners

• SunPower

New Neighborhoods, Inc. (NNI)

• Building Owner

• Common Load Reduction

CT Green Bank

• Provider of equity and debt financing

• Counter-party to NNI on Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

80 Fair Street Norwalk, CT

Typical Project Workflow

1st Level Technical Analysis

Introductory Meeting and Utility

Bill Analysis

2nd Level Technical/Savings

Analysis Presentation

Site Visit with Construction Lead and CT-Licensed

Electrician

PPA Work-Order Review and

Signing

Final System Design and Permitting

Submit Financial Documents to

CTGB for Review

PPA Contract Signing

Installation

Our Installation Team

• 7 highly trained solar installers (4 NABCEP certified)

• CT E1 and E2

Thank you.

Peter Mandelstam PMandelstam@GRIDAlternatives.org

917-327-2273 gridalternatives.org