iowa statewide solar readiness initiativearchive.iamu.org/conference/energy 2013/pre/iowa...
TRANSCRIPT
Agenda
» Project Background» Iowa Solar Readiness
Initiative Overview» Status of Solar in Iowa» Structure of the Iowa Solar
Readiness Initiative» Q&A
World Food Prize, Des Moines
Iowa Statewide Solar Readiness Initiative Team
Iowa Economic Development Authority, Energy TeamLead AgencyState Energy Office
Iowa Association of Municipal UtilitiesRepresenting more than 550 municipal electric, gas, water and broadband utilities statewide
Iowa Environmental CouncilA mission for a safe, healthy environment and sustainable future for Iowa
The Sun Shot Initiative
Funded by Department of Energy
» Make solar energy cost competitive with traditional forms of electricity
» Reduce installed cost of solar by 75%
Access Energy, Mount Pleasant
Rooftop Solar Challenge
» Rooftop Solar Challenge is a Sun Shot Program to: Achieve measurable improvements in market conditions for rooftop
photovoltaics» Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative awarded $1M grant» 2.5 year project timeline» 20% matching funds provided by partner organizations
Solar “soft costs”
Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system’s non-hardware costs associated with processes such as customer acquisition, permitting, inspection, installation, and interconnection that make up approximately 30-40% of the total installed cost
Grinnell School District Sun4Schools
Why take the Solar Challenge?
» The Department of Energy found that inappropriate zoning, permitting and inspection procedures were a significant burden to installing solar energy:– Sometimes adding excessive cost to customers (inappropriate permitting fees,
variances, municipal hearings)– Delaying installation of solar systems through lag time on inspection and
interconnection– Requiring the industry to navigate a wide range of inconsistent policies across
jurisdictions
» Without established procedures, most localities either under-regulate or over-regulate
Why take the Solar Challenge?
» Save money through reduced cost of installation
» Build stronger economies based on clean, reliable solar energy
» Create smarter administrative processes
» Create jobs and help increase U.S. competitiveness in the growing renewable energy industry
Project Objectives
» Engage stakeholders and create collaborative effort to promote solar energy
» Increase knowledge of solar PV benefits and barriers» Promote standardization of net metering and
interconnection» Provide communities with solar planning and zoning
resources» Identify and evaluate policy options to further reduce soft
costs
Project Deliverables
Planning and Implementation: Online toolbox with resources
for streamlining and standardizing installations
Education and Outreach: Solar awareness, Action Plans for 7
local governments, code and inspection training, partner with
Optony’s Solar Roadmap program for local governments
Policy and Finance: Propose policy to promote solar PV and
improve access to financing
Project Significance
» Focus on rural and smaller urban areas
» Statewide scope
» 99 county jurisdictions
» 947 incorporated cities
» Variety of electrical providers– IAEC represents 41 separate rural electric cooperatives serving over 650,000 residents– IAMU reports over 200,000 meters serviced by municipal utilities– Two Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) with a widely dispersed service area
Current status of solar
IOU standard interconnection rules adopted by IUB
2012 state solar energy system tax credit: mirrors federal tax credit
Federal incentives: 30% US Energy Investment Tax Credit (Corporate) and Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Personal)
Iowa Energy Center Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program
USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) program
Current status of solar
Localized efforts: Ames Municipal Utility solar rebate program, Farmers Electric Cooperative feed-in tariff, both IAMU and the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives have tools for their members including standard interconnection agreement
1-2 MW of solar PV installed in Iowa and of this 436 kW of solar projects funded by IEDA (formerly OEI
Typical solar application in Iowa
Honey Creek Resort, DNR, Honey Creek State Park
Solar Thermal on Lodge
Solar PV on 5 cabins
The Hardware
Solar silicon panels (monocrystalline or polycrystalline) or Thin-film cells
Racking system: roof or ground mounted; fixed or tracking
The Soft Costs •Design cost•Zoning variance•Bidding process•Interconnection agreement•Building permit•Electrical permit
•Site permit (non-rooftop system)•Electrical inspection (utility)•Construction inspection•Contractor selection
Lowering the Soft Costs•Model zoning ordinances
•Permitting fee structure
•Online/standard permitting application
•Sample contract for designer and installer
•Inspector training
•Inspection checklist
•Standard product specification
•Directory of designers, vendors and installers
•Project case studies
•Standard interconnection agreements
•Bulk purchasing
•Summary of incentives and financing options
Solar Readiness Pilot Localities
» Floyd County» Linn County» City of Cedar Rapids» City of Des Moines» City of Dubuque» Minimum of 2 Municipal Utilities to be determined
October to December 2013 (Q1)
January to March 2014 (Q2)
April to June 2014 (Q3)
July to September 2014 (Q4)
October to December 2014 (Q5)
January to March 2015 (Q6) G
o/N
o D
ecis
ion
April to June 2015 (Q7)
July to September 2015 (Q8)
October to December 2015 (Q9)
January to March 2016 (Q10)
Develop Solar PV Market toolbox
Train Pilot & Other communities on how to use the toolbox
Pilot communities: Draft action plans
Pilot communities: Implement action plans
Training sessions with additional local governments & pilot local governments
Implement Solar PV projects
Education & outreach events across IA
Develop Case Studies
Recommend Solar Policies for Iowa
Update progress on policies and share best practices
Key
Task 2: Lower Soft Costs through Pilot Communities Task 1: Develop a web-based Solar PV Market Toolbox
Task 3: Community Outreadh and EducationTask 4: Evaluate State Policies
Stakeholder Opportunities
Stakeholder Project Orientation (mid-October at IEDA office)
Statewide Project Kickoff (February time frame, in Des Moines)
Regional Solar Outreach Events (8 events throughout the state, 2015-2015)
Code and Inspection related workshops (minimum of 4 events)
Contact Information
» Iowa Economic Development Authority
Shelly Peterson Carrie [email protected] [email protected] 515-725-2033
Paritosh Kasotia, Energy Team Leader Kaley [email protected] [email protected] 515-725-3017
Website: http://iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/Programs/Energy
Contact Information
» Iowa Association of Municipal UtilitiesAnne [email protected]
» Iowa Environmental CouncilNathaniel [email protected]