Go Solar Florida

SFAEP Annual Symposium, November 5, 2014 Kay Sommers, Project Manager- Go Solar Florida

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Overview • DOE SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge Grant • Go Solar Broward • Go Solar Florida • Roadblocks • What YOU can do

– As a homeowner – As a business – As a local government

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SunShot is the Apollo Mission of Our Time

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~ Currently at 13 cents/kWh (2014 in Florida)

Panel Prices Plummeted

Source: Mints, P. (2011). Photovoltaic Manufacturer Shipments, Capacity, & Competitive Analysis 20010/2011. Report # NPS-Supply6. Palo Alto, CA: Navigant Consulting Photovoltaic Service Program. 5

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Soft Costs

Maintenance Installation Customer Acquisition Permitting Financing

Over 64% of the cost of solar installations are due to soft costs. Go Solar Florida is working on reducing permitting soft costs.

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Online Permit System Shortcomings:

• Very limited preapproved plan options

• One size does NOT fit all

• No longer in compliance when building codes

change

• No one has used it yet

Go SOLAR Broward

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Go SOLAR Florida Rooftop Solar Challenge II

1. 2013 U.S. Department of Energy Grant 2. Broward County is administering the grant with

a. 5 partner counties b. The City of Venice c. Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and Florida Atlantic

University d. 9 additional BC cities e. Collaborating to make solar rooftop systems easier,

faster and cheaper for residents and businesses Through streamlined permitting, engineering and regulation

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Go SOLAR Florida

In conjunction with partners, working on • Improved Permitting • Solar Financing Action Plan • Planning & Zoning Best

Practices • Outreach, education,

legislation

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Go SOLAR Florida Improved Permitting

• Develop uniform ePermit application (electronic)

• Apply on Go SOLAR Florida website • Electrical module includes on-demand specs

for panels, inverters • Structural module to include a wind load and

anchoring algorithm . . . continued

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Go SOLAR Florida Improved Permitting. . . continued

• System will be automated with built-in code

checking & validation • Licensed contractors end up with electrical

and structural design plans to upload with final permit package

• Next, directed to jurisdiction who collects fees and issues permits

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Improved Permitting. . . continued

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Go SOLAR Florida Solar Financing Action Plan (SFAP)

• Public Investment by Local Government Options – Direct purchase – Bond financing

• General Obligation Funds • Qualified Energy Conservation Funds

– Solar Leasing – Solar Services – Performance Contracting – Bulk Purchasing – Combination . . . continued

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Go SOLAR Florida Solar Financing Action Plan . . . continued

• Fostering Solar in Local Communities Options

– Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) – Low-Interest Loans – Partnerships with Financial Institutions – Economic Incentive Programs – Bulk Purchasing – Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds – Combination

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Go SOLAR Florida Planning & Zoning Best Practices

• Reviewed zoning ordinances to identify and

eliminate potential barriers to solar installations • Revise the existing model solar-friendly zoning

ordinance • Work with participating partners to adopt the

model zoning ordinance and solar-friendly zoning amendments

• Revise the existing Planning and Zoning Best Management Practices

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Go SOLAR Florida

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• Great idea, but it’s not easy! • Roadblocks

– Change in government is SLOW – Signing contracts took 1 year – Meetings through conference calls – It’s never been done before – You can’t do that – Can’t we all just get along? – Existing Florida legislation makes it more difficult – Strong utility lobby

Go Solar Florida

Nothing worthwhile in life is easy, we do have some advantages: • Leadership • Great team • Great partners • We believe this is important • Give the people what they want

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How Can YOU Help? Everyone can:

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• Reduce your energy use through conservation • Investigate solar options • Learn about the issues

• Solar Rights • Zoning Best Practices • Financing Options • Net Metering • Permitting

• Discuss solar energy policies with your local, state and federal legislators

• Spread the word • Join our mailing list (gosolar@broward.org)

How Can YOU Help - as a Homeowner?

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• Reduce your energy use through conservation • Investigate solar options for your home • Learn about the issues • Discuss solar energy policies with your local, state

and federal legislators • Spread the word about Go SOLAR Florida

How Can YOU Help -as a Business?

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• Learn about the Florida Solar Financing Action Plan • Offer support for the Action Plan • Offer support for policies and legislation which

promote solar energy at the local, state and federal level

• Consider installation of solar PV on your facility, taking advantage of financing options that fit you

• Market the Go SOLAR Florida website to customers and colleagues

How Can YOU Help -as a Local Government?

Join our efforts in a Joint Legislative Position for 2015 Legislative Session

– Support expansion of net metering to allow for off-site or “virtual” net metering

– SUPPORT legislation and/or constitutional amendments aiming to exempt solar photovoltaic systems from commercial property assessments and the tangible personal property tax

– SUPPORT existing statutory authority for the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) . . . continued

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How Can YOU Help -As a Local Government?

. . . continued

• Identify solar advocates in your organization • Review the Florida Solar Financing Action Plan • Select and implement financing options that fit

your public facilities • Encourage enactment of Sample Financing

Resolution within your jurisdiction • Encourage adoption of model zoning ordinance

within your jurisdiction . . . continued

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How Can YOU Help -As a Local Government?

. . . continued • Select and implement locally-appropriate policies

to support PV • Pursue commission approval of a resolution in

support of solar energy, including adoption of the Solar Financing Action Plan

• Offer support for legislation and policies at the state and federal level that promote solar energy (within your legislative program)

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Go SOLAR Florida

• Go SOLAR Broward Online Permitting https://gosolar.broward.org/gosolar/Default.aspx

• www.GoSolarFlorida.org

• Kay Sommers ksommers@broward.org 954-519-1257

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